Dr. David Leroy Downs, MD

Underwent a laser cataract removal. It went well. "Anesthesiology" consisted of a Valium tablet administered by a nurse. Was told I did not require an anesthetic, yet the Doctor billed Medicare $720.00, with a co-payment billed to me. He was not present at any time. Was told by the billing clerk he was probably "seeing other patients".

I told him I had problems with anesthesia in the past, and he told me that he knew how to give that drug so it wouldn't cause me problems. He gave it to me and I had the same reaction as last time. I felt like I had been beaten all over with a baseball bat. I hurt so bad that I could hardly move for 2 days. 5 years ago when I told an anesthesiologist that, he didn't use the drug and I didn't have that problem. Instead of putting me under with my IV, without warning or explanation, he put a mask over my face and held it on while I cried out that I can't breathe and tried to push it off my face. He pushed my hand away and said, "You are fine. It is oxygen." I could not feel oxygen or air of any kind, only that I was suffocating. I went unconscious. I don't know if it was from lack of air or if he finally put medication in my IV. When I woke up I had a sore throat so bad that I could not swallow water without Percocet. I am 8 days post op and no longer am taking narcotic pain… meds , but I still have the sore throat. I went to my primary MD office 2 days ago and the PA said that my throat is all red and that it is not an infection, but that I must have reacted to something use in intubation. I have had 3 surgeries plus other procedures that I have been put under for and this was the worst by far.