- Report: #1246749
Complaint Review: International Brain Research Foundation - Flanders New Jersey
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
International Brain Research Foundation
227 Route 206 N Flanders, 07836 New Jersey, USA
Phone:
7324947600
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
International Brain Research Foundation Dr. DeFina, Philip DeFina, Phil DeFina, IBRF Philip DeFina took advantage of my brain injured husband and stole $25,000 from our family. Flanders New Jersey
My husband suffered a traumatic brain injury in a serious motorcycle accident. As a result, he is partially paralyzed on his right side, he has diminished mental capacity and poor judgement, he makes exaggerated statements, and he has no filter.
He was visiting with his neurologist Dr. Jonathan Fellus, and he told Fellus about being removed from the HUMC board of directors due to using expletives at a board meeting after he had donated a total of four million dollars to the Hospital (that amount was an exaggeration). Fellus offered to bring my husband to Philip DeFina at IBRF, who immediately told him he could become a board member there! DeFina asked us to begin by hosting a fundraiser for his non-profit foundation at our home and at a cost to us of $40,000, and we agreed.
Before we even met to begin planning the fundraising event, DeFina proposed a three year $300,000 project to help with my husband’s executive function (attention, judgement, etc.) and motor function in his right arm. He claimed that the assessment tools and treatment regimen would be customized by him and his specialized team of MDs and PhDs. (I later learned that DeFina is not qualified to treat anyone!!! He is not licensed!!!) I paid IBRF $25,000 on July 1 to begin the project. DeFina immediately began harassing me for more money, which made me nervous. He claimed that he would usually receive the full $300K up front, and he was doing me a favor by asking for only $100K on an annual basis. I wanted to pay $25K quarterly, but he would not accept that.
This began smelling very fishy. I asked for a detailed invoice for the treatments he was proposing, which I received on July 22. The invoice indicated a total cost breakdown ranging between $372K and $389K, but we only needed to pay $300K. We decided to stop the process and asked for a partial refund of the $25,000 deposit.
DeFina refused, stating that the costs incurred totaled $25,300, not even including fees for his time invested which would “easily” amount to an additional $25,000 on top of that. (All of this within just three weeks!) He claimed to have assembled a team of experts in brain rehabilitation, artificial intelligence and brain computer interface, and that he made payments to them for their work. I do not believe anything he told us. For our $25,000 we did not receive one report, not one piece of paper! With all of the work DeFina claims to have done, why not bring us in to see it? Because there was no work done, and I don’t even believe he made any payments for researchers to do any work on our project! DeFina is a swindler and a con artist!
Whatever you do, DO NOT PAY DEFINA UPFRONT FOR ANYTHING, and get EVERYTHING IN WRITING FIRST! He will make your head spin with promises, then back-pedal and lie about what he said. He is a thief masquerading in Doctor’s clothing! Do not trust him, and do not use him as a middleman, pay your doctor directly!!!
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Your Interest in Dr. Fellus
#2Author of original report
Thu, August 20, 2015
Gee RAINPA, you are quick to claim the content here is not credible, but it is 100% accurate.
Timeline: this happened before Dr. Fellus lost his license to practice medicine in June 2014.
Fellus had a lapse in judgement having sex with a patient. He also has had a lapse in judgement working with DeFina.
Rumor is that Fellus is still there, possibly practicing medicine without a license under the guise of "research".
I hope that you or a loved one are not currently under his care!
I do feel badly for Dr. Fellus, if you speak with him and he is still with DeFina, tell him to get out fast!
See article on Fellus license revocation at: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/doctor-license-revoked-sex-patient-brain-injury-article-1.1830673
Report Attachments
RAINPA
Easton ,Pennsylvania,
USA
No further details?
#3Consumer Comment
Tue, August 18, 2015
I must assume that this report is inaccurate, since more specific info (timeline) has not been posted. I am familiar with the organization and some of this just doesn't add up. Would definitely not accept all the content here as credible.
RAINPA
Easton ,Pennsylvania,
USA
Timeline?
#4Consumer Comment
Sat, August 15, 2015
I would be very interested in seeing a Timeline of the events in this report. ie: date of visit with Dr. Fellus. RAINA Easton PA
