American TV person outsources his Knee replacement to Chennai, India

Added: (Sun Jul 30 2006)

Pressbox (Press Release) - An American school teacher from Washington DC recently underwent a High flex Knee replacement at Chennai by Dr.A.K.Venkatachalam a British trained Orthopedic surgeon. JR only 53 years old was in a desperate state with long lay off from work due to crippling arthritis. Millions like him without insurance are unable to get quality Orthopedic surgery in the US. Same is the plight of many British patients as they ahv lost in the NHS despite efforts by the labour government to disourage medical tourism.
JR developed secondary osteoarthritis in middle age itself after four failed surgeries for a torn ACL( antererior curciate ligament). He was told by four Orthopedic surgeons back in the US that a Knee replacement was the only answer to his woes but nobody was willing to do it at an affordable cost. A Total knee replacement costs 30,000 dollars in the US with the hospital's share being only 10,000 dollars. The rest is gobbled up by malpractice indemnity and the insurance companies. American orthopedic surgeons shun patients without adequate insurance. John was jeered at by the surgeons and someone sarcastically suggested that he could get a knee replacement in India.
Undeterred by Sarcasm and driven by need, J located his Orthopedic surgeon, Dr.A.K.Venkatachalam of www.kneeindia.com after an extensive research on the internet.
Though intially he was overawed by the logistics of getting to India having never been there before, he took the bold step. He managed first class tickets during the World cup football tournament in Germany.
In Chennai J received a High flex knee replacement. The same surgery was only recently performed for a British pensioner from the North east of England.
After spending 10 days in a Chennai hospital,J returned to the US a fortnight ago.