Dr. James Bates, MD

I wasn't able to walk more than 3 miles before my legs would swell up for the rest of the day. Scripps drs all denied me until Dr Bates replaced both knees 6 mo apart in 2020. I was 55 yrs old at the time. Thanks to Dr Bates I have a whole new life where I can walk endlessly & feel no pain in my joints. Replacing my knees changed my life.

I waited 4 months for surgery. I was scheduled for a surgical review. BUT Bates was due for hip replacement himself. So he cancelled my surgery and injected me with what I do not know. Then he yelled at me that there would be no surgery for the rest of the year. I am still in pain. He never informed me. I would have gone elsewhere which is what I did do. Now he is threatening me with collections for $11.31.

I have had replacement of both of my knees through Dr. Bates. One in 2013 and the other in 2017. Afterwards I was playing Racquetball but now thanks to COVID am playing Pickleball. I play 6 days out of the week for about 2 hours each day. Both knees are doing exceptionally well. I also had Dr Bates remove some screws and plates from a foot fusion that was performed by another Dr the year before. I have recommended various senior athletes and have heard nothing but praise. As a reference, I had a major knee injury to my left in 1992 during a motorcycle accident which started my knee issues. Took out my medial, internal ligaments and half of my patella tendon. I had a few previous surgeries to try and repair. I continued being active playing sports like racquetball, softball and even a little touch football. Totally wore out the the left knee which initiated the left replacement and then the right finally gave up in2017. I will be 61 in June of 2021. Just amazing

I had bilateral Carpal Tunnel Releases staged 6 weeks apart and I had excellent results. I returned to work within 7 days after each surgery. Dr. Bates is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of Orthopedic surgery and I felt very confident in his care. I would (and have) recommend him to friends and family requiring care for problems ranging from minor fractures to total joint replacement.

He doesn't care about his patients as he does not listen. He does what he wants and not what is best for the patient. He botched my knee replacement surgery and I am now having it redone by a different surgeon. He actually performs follow up clinic visits from the hallway and doesn't even bother to come into the exam room. He is arrogant and takes a lot of short cuts which is why my surgery had a very poor outcome.

Went in with xrays of foot and 2 hips. Dr Bates burst into the room & told me I needed 2 hip replacements (I 'd been told bone spur previously) & by the way, the foot surgery would be the most painful because he'd have to 'break a few bones'. I was dumbfounded. He didn't tell me what to do, what would make it worse, or if any exercise etc would help. He didn't prescribe a pain killer, he didn't advise a referral, he didn't say "come back in a month" or come back any time. I was in shock.