A letter to members& rebutt to arashi/didi@drnigam

[jay woo]

I believe Dr Nigam is a doctor http://www.mciindia.org/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=404563. This fits in with what he has said before. I do not know how the medical profession works in India and what is required to become a specialist i.e.. Dermatologist. It may not be the same as western countries.
I also do not know why you need to be a dermatologist to perform hair transplants, an artist would probable be more useful. I doubt hair transplants would be part of the normal training for a dermatologist.

[Arashi]

In my mind, the last few months, it's never been about trying to prove Dr. Nigams to be a credible, trustworthy doctor (there's no hope for that given all that's happened). It's about proving his technique, which might have a little promise because an IAHRS member visited his lab, learned it, and came back with an optimistic attitude. Even though Dr. Mwamba's judgement may have been biased by his intent to get on the donor-regeneration wagon, asserting that right now would be speculative. So why not wait until Mwamba credits or discredits Nigam's technique?

Regarding Dr. Nigam's himself, I agree with everyone regarding his lies and the claims he's made, but I also have a slightly different perspective because I'm Indian, and lived there for many years. It's not like the western world. India, unfortunately, is a corrupt place. There isn't much enforceable regulation. I haven't run into a cop that you can't pay off, and I know that corruption worsens at the institutional level. This has created a culture of cheating, corruption, and poor ethical standards. Professionals lie all the time. But no one gives these issues the time of day when there see literally truckloads of beggars being driven by politicians for a free meal and some actual clothes at the ballot office. Unfortunately, without actual regulation, this has become the cultural norm. And these are the rules that a lot of players play ball with in order to stay competitive.

I don't like it; I'm not supporting anyone who lies and cheats to their patients (it sickens me). But, at some level, I do think it's possible for an untrustworthy doctor of poor integrity, who has some skills and/or knowledge, and doesn't work within the jurisdiction of FDA/other medical regulations, to stumble across a technique that can at least improve or add value to donor regeneration.

Anyways, not disagreeing with anyone, just adding my perspective and $.02.

So let's say Nigam's bought himself the right certificates. You think there's no way to find out about that ?

[Arashi]

I believe Dr Nigam is a doctor http://www.mciindia.org/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=404563. This fits in with what he has said before. I do not know how the medical profession works in India and what is required to become a specialist i.e.. Dermatologist. It may not be the same as western countries.
I also do not know why you need to be a dermatologist to perform hair transplants, an artist would probable be more useful. I doubt hair transplants would be part of the normal training for a dermatologist.

There's no dermalogy department at that university. mr Nigam claimed indeed at some point he had some biosciences degree. That would indeed fit that. But that's far from being a medical doctor, let alone a dermatologist. At least in the Western world surely somebody like that is not allowed to perform hair surgery.

[Barron]

So let's say Nigam's bought himself the right certificates. You think there's no way to find out about that ?

I think with more investigating, contacting his prior-manager and his university etc. you'd be able to uncover some very valid evidence, but it would be tough to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

The place is so corrupt that, if you have the right contacts, you can probably pay off university officials to give you a certificate. Going to court over matters like this can take decades.

And you know, if his credentials were indeed forged, Dr. Nigams would come back with some absurd counter-argument like...I don't know... university record-keeping back then was very poor, unreliable, and not computerized.

By the way, I admire your perseverance and drive to get down to the bottom of this.

[Arashi]

I think with more investigating, contacting his prior-manager and his university etc. you'd be able to uncover some very valid evidence, but it would be tough to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

The place is so corrupt that, if you have the right contacts, you can probably pay off university officials to give you a certificate. Going to court over matters like this can take decades.

And you know, if his credentials were indeed forged, Dr. Nigams would come back with some absurd counter-argument like...I don't know... university record-keeping back then was very poor, unreliable, and not computerized.

By the way, I admire your perseverance and drive to get down to the bottom of this.

Well, I think it all won't be necessary. I think Mr Nigam will send certifcates proving he studied biosciences. Which is really something else than a doctor. What would be the correct title for that anyway in India ? I myself am ah 'ir', which in the Netherlands used to be the common title for a technical academic graduate (you'd also have 'drs', for alpha non medical studies, you'd have 'dr' for medical university, or 'mr' for lawschool. So you're only allowed to call yourself a doctor, if you're really are one).

Bottomline, in the Western world he wouldn't be allowed to perform hair surgery.

[jay woo]

I think you will find Dr Nigam has a mbbs which makes him a medical doctor. It probably would not allow him to offer the services he does in Western countries. It probable does in India. If you want western standards and qualifications then look to a western country. Asia has many competent doctors but many more incompetent. It is difficult to differentiate by looking on the net. Indeminety insurance is one of the great costs for doctors. Seek compensation from a doctor in Asia and see how much you get.

[Arashi]

I think you will find Dr Nigam has a mbbs which makes him a medical doctor. .

That's 100% wrong. Look up what it says on Wiki:

Medical colleges in India, accredited by the Medical Council of India, all title the degrees as MBBS. The students complete a course of four and a half years followed by one year of a compulsory rotatory internship before applying for the degree. The course is divided into four parts with only the second part lasting one and a half years. Students take an examination at the end of each part. The first part comprises pre-clinical subjects anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. The second part includes para-clinical subjects pharmacology, microbiology, pathology and forensic medicine. The third part comprises clinical subjects is divided into part I and part II comprising preventive and social medicine, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology and general medicine, general surgery & orthopedics, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology respectively. The 12 month internship is compulsory to attain both the degrees and registration with the Medical Council of India.
Following MBBS they can apply for post graduate (specialty) coarses which will be for 2 to 3 years they will receive a degree as MD, MS, DNB depending on the subjects. Following this they can also further do super specialty courses in cardiology, neurology, oncology, nephrology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, immunology, etc. for 3 more years, they will be awarded the degree as DM (medical), MCh (surgical), DNB (medical/surgical).

He only has his bachelor and therefore is not a real doctor. And that's exactly what Dr Anjali (who unlike NIgam IS a doctor) accused him of.

Let me ask you this. Would you let a guy who only has his bachelor operate on your heart ? Of course you wouldn't. Now you could argue "but this is only hair surgery". Sure, but at least in the Western World they don't make that difference. You're only allowed to perform ANY kind of surgery if you have a Master degree. Not just bachelor.

What a world would it be if everyone who had a bachelor could call himself doctor.

[jay woo]

Do you mean he is not a registered doctor or he is not a specialist ? I will post a better response later. The correct link for his registration I believe is http://www.mciindia.org/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=203077. He has more doctor's than just himself working for the clinic.

[HairBane]

If I was Dr. Nigam I'd be pursuing a libel lawsuit for defamation of character, loss of earnings, etc. claiming he's not a qualified doctor when it appears he is in fact.

Again, we can't know for sure whether he's a scam artist or some kind of baldness messiah. But I think we should wait and see before making harsh allegations. You don't have to read his posts, but you have no proof that he's a fraud - let other people make their own mind up, it's 50/50 right now.

I genuinely thought of Arashi as one of the slightly more intelligent members of this forum until the last few days, where he's shown himself to be a petty vengeful teenager, thinking anyone other than a few other circlejerking forum members care about his big 'expose' of Dr. Nigam.

[greatjob!]

If I was Dr. Nigam I'd be pursuing a libel lawsuit for defamation of character, loss of earnings, etc. claiming he's not a qualified doctor when it appears he is in fact.

And where do you propose he files that lawsuit? In the world internet court? Nigam is in India, Arashi lives in the Netherlands (I think), and they're posting on a U.S. hosted site, see the problem. You can't just sue anyone anywhere under any jurisdiction. Go ahead and try and sue me in a foreign country, or come to the states as a non-citizen and sue me for something I wrote on the internet, see how that works out...