Opinion ID: 6534446
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Testimony of Colleen Gibson

Text: [¶25] Colleen Gibson, Dr. Ritter-Lang's case manager and former patient, testified that Dr. Ritter-Lang implanted Maverick discs (a predecessor to the M6 disc) in her lumbar spine at L4-5 and L5-S1. According to Ms. Gibson, the surgery gave me my life back. I am able to work. I am able to do all of the things I love to do. Ms. Gibson testified that Dr. Ritter-Lang's subsequent implantation of two M6 discs in her cervical spine was even a better experience. [¶26] Ms. Gibson also testified that, as a case manager, she acted as a liaison between potential patients and Dr. Ritter-Lang, helping to gather medical information, book surgery, and arrange travel and accommodations. After surgery, she followed up with patients at regular intervals: immediately after returning home, 12 weeks after surgery, 6 months after surgery, and 24 months after surgery. She had worked with well over a thousand patients of Dr. Ritter-Lang. Q. [Ms. Harboth's Counsel:] ... [D]o you have an estimate as to the percentage of those who have achieved a positive outcome? A. [Ms. Gibson:] I don't have a percentage, no. Q.... [D]o you have an estimate as to the ratio of those with a positive-a very positive outcome? A. I have seen a lot of excellent results. I have seen many, many patients that were able to return to work. I have seen patients who are able to return to all of their sports activities. And I have had patients tell me that before surgery, they had a feeling of hopelessness, depression, unable to work, unable to pay for their homes, and following surgery, they were given their  lives back. And they have all told me that they couldn't be happier and that they would tell everybody they know about what they went through and their experience with Dr. Ritter[-Lang]. On cross-examination, the Division asked Ms. Gibson about complication rates: Q.... We sent some written interrogatories to Dr. Ritter[-]Lang. One of the questions to him was about complication rates with the M-6 artificial disk replacement, and he said that the range could-and the studies were like somewhere between zero to 30 percent as far as complication rates. Is that consistent with what you have seen since you have been working for [Dr. Ritter-Lang], I mean? A. Like I said, I have seen excellent results with Dr. Ritter[-]Lang. I cannot comment on any percentages because I don't have that information. Q. Okay. That is a better question left for Dr. Ritter[-]Lang, I assume? A. Yes, it is. Q. Okay. Have you seen bad results, though, in some cases? A. I have seen excellent results. Of course, not every surgery can be a hundred percent perfect, and it's that way with any surgery. Q. Okay. Well, you told us about the excellent results. I guess my question is just have you seen cases that-well, that did not come out the way that they had hoped and even came out poorly? A. I would rather Dr. Ritter[-]Lang comment on that as I am not qualified to comment on that.