LOS ANGELES, Sept. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 1 800 GET THIN, a leading proponent of patient safety and marketer of the FDA approved Lap Band, gives its full support to SB 100, the "Surgery Center Bill" passed by the California Legislature to increase standards at surgery centers in California. In its continued commitment to patient safety, 1 800 GET THIN only advertises for surgery centers that are fully accredited meeting high safety standards.
1 800 GET THIN is extremely dismayed that the LA Times continues to portray it in a false light by continuing to publish misleading and unfair articles, the latest being on September 28, 2011 by Stuart Pfeifer. In its zeal to defame 1 800 GET THIN, the Los Angeles Times never even attempted to contact 1 800 GET THIN prior to the publication of this story, thereby denying it any opportunity to respond. 1 800 GET THIN has repeatedly asked the LA Times for it to be allowed to respond to articles in which it is mentioned, but the LA Times continues to deny this request.
The LA Times is claiming SB 100 would result in greater scrutiny of 1 800 GET THIN and its advertisers; a wholly untrue allegation. 1 800 GET THIN contends that The LA Times tries to deceive the public by attempting to link 1 800 GET THIN that started operations in 2010 with a surgery center referenced in the story that closed in 2009. It would be impossible for 1800 GET THIN to have this connection as 1800 GET THIN never existed in 2009. The LA Times repeatedly has been told these facts but refuses to publish the truth. The Los Angeles Times loses all credibility when it makes such nonsensical claims.
The surgery centers that advertise with 1 800 GET THIN are fully accredited to provide the highest patient safety and would not be adversely affected by SB 100. 1 800 GET THIN welcomes any legislation that is designed to improve patient safety.
We believe that it is disingenuous and misleading for the Los Angeles Times to utilize a billboard from 2010, which it knows has long since been replaced with new advertising which contain risks disclosures. These disclosures are provided in the interest of public safety and far exceed the industry standards and any legal requirements. 1 800 GET THIN is not aware of any other advertiser that provides these safety disclosures to the public as recommended by Dr. Jonathan Fielding, Director of the LA County Department of Public Health.
1 800 GET THIN is a marketing firm, and it does not practice medicine. Again, all facilities that advertise with 1 800 GET THIN are fully accredited thereby meeting the highest standards for patient safety. 1 800 GET THIN has communicated these facts to the LA Times multiple times to no avail.
1 800 GET THIN believes this story is yet again a calculated retaliation by the Los Angeles Times. 1 800 GET THIN has recently filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Times for wiretapping, antitrust, and unfair competition just PRIOR to barrage of the recent false and misleading stories by the Los Angeles Times. As detailed in the Courthouse News Article,
"[T]he Los Angeles Times perpetrated a 'Chicago-style protection scheme' by attacking it in news articles strategically placed beside expensive advertisements for competitors that offer the same procedure.
"After printing 'attack articles' about Beverly Hills-based 1 800 Get Thin, and selling convenient ad space to its competitors at a premium, the Times 'sold immunity against adverse news' to the competitors and suppressed comments endorsing Get Thin, the complaint states."
The article is at: http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/09/26/40048.htm
1 800 GET THIN's response to the previous article can be found at http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/1-800-get-thin-responds-with-the-facts-on-lap-band-safety-130573103.html.
1 800 GET THIN was a paid advertiser with the LA Times until it was terminated, we were told by the LA Times this was at the request of the editorial staff. In most reputable newspapers, there is the separation between editorial and advertising. We believe this is not the case with the Los Angeles Times. About 7 months later, the LA Times reversed ship, claimed that the LA Times has a change in "management" and offered advertising to 1 800 GET THIN again; however, this time, the rate was 3 times higher than the previous rates even though they confirmed in writing there would be no rate change to re-advertise. 1 800 GET THIN refused to pay what we perceive as "protection money" and shortly thereafter, the attacks with false and misleading articles restarted. Proof of this is available to any legitimate media inquiry.
While the Los Angeles Times continues to write misleading articles about 1 800 GET THIN, they completely disregarded the passing of Sharon Espudo, a Southern California resident who passed away in Mexico while undergoing a discounted Lap Band procedure. The Mexican facility that performed the surgery, a facility that does not report to any US accreditation agency or government body, is an Advertiser with the Los Angeles Times and is thereby protected vis a vis payment of the "protection money". Clearly, membership has its privileges. The Los Angeles Times has been informed of this death but never reported, and in fact, concealed it to protect its advertisers, while at the same time attacking 1 800 GET THIN who does not advertise with the LA Times.
1 800 GET THIN contends that the retaliation and targeting by LA Times against 1 800 GET THIN with misleading and false stories betrays the public trust and should be condemned by the community, conscientious citizens, government authorities, and other ethical journalists. Since 1 800 GET THIN filed its lawsuit accusing the Times of wiretapping, antitrust, and unfair competition , we believe the LA times has targeted 1 800 GET THIN by publishing, almost on a daily basis, false and misleading attack articles. Proof of the alleged LA Times conduct described in the lawsuit is again available to respectable media inquiries.
1 800 GET THIN has assisted THOUSANDS of people in Southern California to find new health, a better life, and lose weight by working with the highest quality doctors. Obesity is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and 1 800 GET THIN takes its role as a leader in attacking this rapidly expanding health epidemic very seriously. The Lap-Band procedure is FDA approved and has helps improve and save hundreds of thousands of lives. Our highest priority is patient safety and to work with facilities and physicians that provide the highest level of care to the community.
SOURCE 1-800-GET-THIN
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