[Kathy]

I think the key word is RESEARCH! You must do research, form your own opinions and make your own choice. I wanted to know that, regardless of my surgery outcome, that I had made the best choice for me. To have absolutely no regrets and I don't.
Some people, my family included, thinks I am crazy for being in a clinical trial (guinea pig). After having surgery out of state, I can not fathom having been out of the country (I am a social butterfly and hated not having more of my family near). While others prefer the out of state or out of country experience (definitely did cut out unwanted visitors ) Others believe the old saying that 'the farther away a specialist is, the better they are'. Some don't understand why the dr down the street wouldn't do. I have heard, on these boards, people bragging that the surgeon they chose would be doing their 1st surgery ever on them! (that was something else I thought crazy) Others, don't mind being the 50th patient or the 150th. While others want at least 1,000 before them. Some want to be the first in on a new technology or first one for a new device. Others prefer that a device be tried and true before getting it.
Bottom line: Different people have different preferences. And that is ok, it is good. Aren't we here to seek different opinions? If we wanted the pretty picture, we could just believe the first thing we heard and go with it. But each and every one of us came here looking for more.
Last, I do feel that the surgeons (who I have absolutely no opinion on) should be able to defend themselves; but as mentioned can not due to privacy.