This is the worst specialist ever. He has no knowledge, no heart, no medical ethics, no empathy, and no responsibility.

My former family doctor first referred me to Dr. Lai in 2013 because I noticed a 1cmx1cm lump growing in front of my right ear, on the side of my face. When I went to see him, he used his hand to touch around and feel the lump, subsequently diagnosing me with having a "benign lipoma/cyst". I asked him if I needed to get a CT scan or ultrasound done, but he very quickly dismissed my suggestion as if I was stupid. After diagnosing me by just feeling around with his hand, Dr. Lai suggested that I undergo surgery to remove the lump. However, at the time, I wanted to monitor the growth, so I declined the surgery.

This February, 2016, I visited the Alta Bates Summit Medical Centre in Berkeley, San Francisco, and had a CT scan done on my head. The doctor told me that he detected a 2cmx2cm tumor on the right side of my face. He said that I should get it treated as soon as possible. I told him that my specialist from three years ago (Dr. Lai), diagnosed the lump as a "benign lipoma/cyst". The doctor at Alta Bates strongly recommended me to switch to a different specialist because he thought that Dr. Lai's diagnosis was incorrect. He also told me to request a CT scan and if needed, take out a small section of the lump for a biopsy.

After coming back to Canada, I visited my former family doctor, but he would not refer me to a new specialist because he said that Dr. Lai had already diagnosed my condition three years ago. Thus, with no other option, I was forced to see Dr. Lai again and asked him to let me get a CT scan done. But again, Dr. Lai scoffed at my idea and pressured me into undergoing a surgery to remove the lump that he diagnosed as a "benign lipoma/cyst".

As the surgery was coming to an end, Dr. Lai suddenly told me that the lump was not a "benign lipoma/cyst". I was shocked and scared to death. I asked him if the lump was cancer. However, he answered, "I don't know what it is - I have never seen it before". After the surgery, he told me that he could not answer any of my questions and that I had to wait 10 days until the results of the biopsy came in. Instead of comforting me and soothing my concerns and worries, Dr. Lai told me that if the lump turned out to be cancerous, he would return the $200 surgery fee.

During the 10 days that I waited for the biopsy results, my weight went from 160 pounds down to 120 pounds. I couldn't sleep or eat properly, since Dr. Lai had not answered any of my questions. The results came out saying that the lump is "pleomorphic adenoma". I immediately went to see Dr. Lai, but instead of explaining the details of my situation, Dr. Lai told me to go home and search my questions on google since he did not have enough time to answer these questions. The biopsy report stated that "sections demonstrate fragments of a pleomorphic adenoma", in which "margins cannot be assessed". In other words, as I would later discover, Dr. Lai had cut the tumor into fragments, leaving a 1 cm "root" of the tumor behind. This type of tumor is extremely aggressive. If cut or removed incorrectly, the tumor reoccurs very easily.

I soon went back to see Dr. Lai for a followup. He told me that he wanted to perform a second operation on me after 1 month. I asked him for a CT scan, but again, he completely refused my suggestion. When I asked him what his specific plans were for this operation, he was flustered, as if he did not have an actual plan. By the end of the 30 minute appointment, Dr. Lai changed his mind and said that instead of the surgery, he wanted to see me for a followup appointment after 3 months. When I went to see him after 3 months, he then completely scrapped the idea of a 2nd surgery, and told me to wait until the tumor reoccured again.

From the past events over these 3 years, I believe it is safe to conclude that Dr. Lai is the worst doctor ever. He shows no care for his patients and is extremely condescending. He has no skill and no knowledge to practice as a doctor. He leaves patients in agony, fearful for their future, due to his mistakes. If any patient is referred to Dr. Lai, please, PLEASE, reconsider. You do not want to endure the pain and frustration that I had to go through.

Submitted Dec. 29, 2016

He is a good doctor, he operated me and did an excellent job. He is knowledgeable and professional. I would recommend him to others. I am not sure what these negative comments below are all about but it seems to me that they all came from the same person.

Submitted May 6, 2016

By far the worst doctor I have ever encountered. My mom had hemorrhoids and went to him for the procedure and when she mentioned that it caused her a lot of pain last night (so much that she went to the hospital and they gave her morphine tablets) and this guy immediately stepped away IN THE MIDDLE OF A PROCEDURE and told her to find another doctor if she wanted a pain free procedure. Not the type of attitude you would want from a doctor when you're in a vulnerable state. I would recommend this doctor if you want someone who is rude and has no beside manner otherwise you're better off somewhere else.

Submitted April 16, 2016

Dad was in hospital for an emergency bowel resection. Did not seem to do regular rounds on his patients as he did not show up until post op day 2. We just wanted to know how the surgery went. Always seemed rush and does not want to answer your questions. My dad's blood pressure went up to 200/100 at one point, and he was paged multiple times for orders. When he finally came to assess patient, he kept on implying that his blood pressure had nothing to do with the surgery, and that he did not accidentally nicked anything while he was in there. I'm not saying that his BP had anything to do with the surgery, but it still needs to be managed right? Yelled at me because I wanted to know how and whether my dad's increased BP was going to be addressed. When confronted why he was so angry, he told me that I was "mean" to him. The antibiotics that my dad was receiving had made him get diarrhea and he was up all night going to the bathroom. By discharge, his potassium was low and the doctor came up to him and said "I don't know why your potassium is low, it's not like you're having diarrhea". When my dad told him he was having diarrhea, he just dismissed it and said that he should follow up with his family doctor about his potassium. Seriously. This doctor needs to retire. Rude, arrogant, and doesn't listen. Seems like life had screwed him over somehow and hates everyone.

Submitted Sept. 23, 2015

Rude, abrupt, no nonsense in the worst kind of way. Office clerk is nice, but called me three times to schedule a surgery it turns out I didn't need (per the surgeon!). I have no faith in this office.

Submitted May 28, 2015

This surgeon should not be allowed near patients any longer. He stormed in before surgery and made us feel stupid when he questions about what to expect. Afterword, he was nowhere to be seen. My husband had multiple difficulties, and day three as Lai was ready to discharge him from his total colectomy, my husband because spewing litres of bile, his bp dropped dangerously low, and his hr spiked, he had a fever, and he had no renal output. His abdomen was hard a rock and he was in severe pain. Ater being called and pestered all day by the nurses (we have the charts to show it) he did nothing but tell them to give him more fluids and maybe order a CT but did not make a single appearance at the hospital under 12 hours later, despite the urging of the nursing staff. He showed up after dinner (over 12 hours of me watching my husband dying), and pushed on his stomach and told him that there was fluid in the scan but nothing to worry about, and no need to do surgery. A few minutes later, an anaesthetist came in and told us that it looked sinister and that my husband was in pre-renal shutdown and things were not looking good at this rate and at this rate, he may not make it through the night.... minutes later, there was some loud talking between the two drs in the hallway about this and Dr. Lai, tail between his legs came in to say he'd operate but didn't think he'd find anything.
6 hours later, when my husband came out of surgery, I was told that when they opened him up, his entire abdominal cavity was filled with abscess. He then spent the next forty days under the care of Infectious Diseases in the ICU fighting for his life. Dr. Lai has taken no responsibility whatsoever! NEVER.

Submitted Jan. 31, 2015

Worst Surgeon Ever. Get a different surgeon if you can.

Submitted Dec. 11, 2014

Dr. lai is the worst surgeon and doctor ever. My dad had an artery bypass in his left league done by dr. Lai in may 2013. After about a week, his foot became numb. He went back to dr. Lai and he said it was normal, sent him home with antibiotics and OxyContin. A couple weeks later he went back because an infection was forming on his foot. Again, sent him home. Another week went by and it was much worse. The infection and pain was terrible. He went, yet again to Lai and he sent him home. We were getting sick of this so we got a second opinion from a vascular surgeon at VGH. He came right out to say that Lai had screwed up, the surgery was not done right, my dad almost lost his foot and admitted him to VGh that day. He was in the hospital for 2 months after the surgery was re done (a vein had to be taken from his arm because it was so botched) and he was on strong antibiotics to get rid of the infection in hopes of saving his foot. In sept 2013 my dad was sent home still on antibiotics. A month later he became very ill. We took him to surrey and they told us he had C. difficile. An infection that would normally be curable but because he was on antibiotics for almost 7 months he had no antibodies to fight it. He became septic and passed away. All of this could have been avoided had lai done the first surgery right or handled it properly by admitting him right away. The guy is an idiot. A terrible doctor that should have his license revoked. Because of him, I will never see my dad again

Submitted Oct. 9, 2014

I had ganglia cyst removed from my right wrist. Doctor was very mean didn't give me any after care suggestion. I was in pain after the freezing was gone. I would not recommend him to anyone.

Submitted July 26, 2014

Worst doctor ever. The receptionist is on her cell phone all the time taking personal calls, hence you will not get her when you call to make appointment. They dont have VM either. So the phone continues to ring and ring,,,, If you are lucky to get through, then you get to meet the doctor and rudeness ensues!

Submitted July 16, 2014