Bad Doctors

[Guest guest]

Dear Cherie:

I wish that there was such a forum. I have had so many negative experiences

with doctors over the years. Many of them have resulted in permanent damage.

Most recently, I had a bad experience with a dermatologist. I tried to turn

him in to the hospital where his office was, but they told me that he was

independent and just leased the space. The only place I could think of to

report him was to the AMA. I have a letter drafted, but still haven't done

it. I need to check out the website and see how to go about it. I was

thinking of starting an organization, something like PAID (People Against

Incompetent Doctors). The only problem with it, is that then it would be

difficult to find a doctor willing to treat you. So I see it as a 'damned if

you do, damned if you don't' situation. Unfortunately, in our conditions, we

need them. The only thing to do is to keep trying to find ones that will

treat us like whole people.

If you'd like to talk about your experience, please feel free to e-mail me

personally (KATBERCOO@...). I'd like to hear about it. Take care!

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

Cherie:

Boy what a good idea. A bad doctor list. I ran into two since I have had

AIH. I was pretty dumb to take it from them but I will not stand for it

again. I will call the hospital or Clinic and let them have a piece of my

mind.

SUE AIH

Wisconsin

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

I like your PAID idea - hmmm.....................

KATBERCOO@... wrote:

> From: KATBERCOO@...

>

> Dear Cherie:

>

> I wish that there was such a forum. I have had so many negative experiences

> with doctors over the years. Many of them have resulted in permanent damage.

> Most recently, I had a bad experience with a dermatologist. I tried to turn

> him in to the hospital where his office was, but they told me that he was

> independent and just leased the space. The only place I could think of to

> report him was to the AMA. I have a letter drafted, but still haven't done

> it. I need to check out the website and see how to go about it. I was

> thinking of starting an organization, something like PAID (People Against

> Incompetent Doctors). The only problem with it, is that then it would be

> difficult to find a doctor willing to treat you. So I see it as a 'damned if

> you do, damned if you don't' situation. Unfortunately, in our conditions, we

> need them. The only thing to do is to keep trying to find ones that will

> treat us like whole people.

>

> If you'd like to talk about your experience, please feel free to e-mail me

> personally (KATBERCOO@...). I'd like to hear about it. Take care!

>

> Kathy (AIH)

> Seattle area

>

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[Guest guest]

If a doctor does not know what is wrong, gives a misdiagnosis, only spends 3

minutes with you, does something that makes you sicker, or just screws up in

any way, guess what? They still get paid!

in Georgia

[Guest guest]

Dear :

You're absolutely right. I finally wrote to the AMA ethics department. I

asked how to go about reporting bad doctors. It will be interesting to see

what kind (if any) reply that I get.

Kathy (AIH)

Seattle area

[Guest guest]

,

Absolutely report the SOB! You can report him to several places, too,

including Rehab Associations, your State licensing board, others, etc.

Telling you to get drunk not only is unethical, it shows he knows

nothing about CMT nerves.

Where do you live? Perhaps our group here can help you find bonafide,

legitimate doctors who give referrals to only other 'professionals'.

We're all here to help each other. I'm cautious about which docs and

professionals I see also - a lifetime of idiots will do this to a

girl

~ Gretchen

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Two month ago I went to a new doctor for the follow up on blood

work for headaches, I had new insurance provider so there was little

confusion, when he came into room he said I might have to pay for

this and that I was taking up his valuable time, I said then I may

as well go.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the support Gretchen. I find it so difficult to go to a dr

in the first place because I don't want to be a " complainer " and then

to have something like this happen. I live in Little Rock, AR so if

you can recommend someone to me, I would really appreciate it. My

boss said I should report him to the AMA. So, I am going to take her

and your advice and do that today. He also said he didn't think I had

CMT because women " don't get it " ..........actually, he's the one who

doesn't " get it " !

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/2/2006 3:55:48 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,

jlfnly@... writes:

I find it so difficult to go to a dr

in the first place because I don't want to be a " complainer " and then

to have something like this happen.

I think we have a reason to complain now and then you know . Doctors are

supposed to help us, they get paid for that. With out patients they do not have

jobs. So you are actually doing doctors a favor by going to them.

[Guest guest]

I had the same type of ugly experience with a pain doctor just last week. My old pain doc was wonderful, caring and new exactly what I needed to help take the edge off my pain. Unfortunately he left his practice due to family problems. So ever since I have been searching for a new one. I decided to try one that was listed in my health plan book of participating doctors. Well that turned out to be a big mistake. I went to this guy thinking I will get good care. I brought an updated fasting blood work info from my Family doctor. I brought X-ray, MRI's , and a detailed medical history with me to show him.

First of all they kept me waiting in the office for a very long time. I wouldn't mind so much if he was a good doctor worth waiting for, but instead he was a jerk. When he finally walked in to the office he asked a few short questions, gave me a Mickey mouse exam and seemed like I was bothering him or something. I told him about the previous pain doctor I went to and mentioned what he had given me that worked so well. Well as soon as I mentioned Oxycontin, he became very agitated and unnerved. I might as well had 3 heads with the way he reacted. He folded his arms and arrogantly remarked to me that "HE" doesn't prescribe Oxycontin to anyone except end stage disease patients. I went into shock with his extreme and paranoid reaction. I told him I was on low dose Oxycontin that had been working fine for a year now. Then he balked again and started lecturing me on how many drug addicts are wanting that drug , how they get a lot of money for it on the streets and how the govt. is cracking down on doctors who prescribe it. He spoke to me as if I am a child and have never heard about this info before. And he looked almost half my age. ??? I think I am more informed as to what is appropriate for scoliosis pain relief than this joker. He was completely clueless. I told the nurse that I would rather take a lot of Ibuprophen for my pain than ever have to go through another doctors visit like this one again. . She said to me that they were having a bad day their in the office. It was Friday the 13th.! Then she said his other patients love him!. . I wanted to scream right about then. I know damn well that they couldn't be talking about any Scoliosis patients because this guy hasn't a clue about us..

Well now I felt like I was in the twilight zone. I couldn't believe he was giving me such a hard time. Right about then I was feeling pretty bad. I went to him with such high hopes and I was left feeling like a drug addict or something. I asked him if he saw my x-rays? He quickly said yes, but I don't believe he did. It was a rush rush exam and a very intimidating consult. I felt like I was in the inquisition.. A criminal or something. It was just terrible from beginning to end. His God like attitude was very unnerving..! By the way, he charged my insurance company 480 dollars for that miserable consult which was anything but thorough and the Mickey Mouse exam where he tested my reflexes by hitting my knee to see if it would jump/ Big deal right?

Next he lays another bombshell. in my lap. He says to me I will be tox screening you by giving urine test every time I come to his office. Well. That did it. ! I said. " have you ever dealt with scoliosis patients with flatback syndrome before"?? He quickly and defensively said that he had, but I don't believe him.! I am sure he is lying. He seemed to be totally uninformed and unaware of the chronic pain that scoliosis sufferers have. .He had no plan of action and left me feeling high and dry. I told him that I have never been treated like this before. And I don't appreciate being treated like a drug addict. It was very upsetting. I felt demoralized and disrespected by this so called doctor. He just totally didn't get it. And seemed uninterested in doing so.

He quickly wrote out a prescription for low dose oxycontin.and he abruptly walked out of the office. Then the nurse told me to go in the bathroom and leave a urine sample. for a Tox screen. I was about on the edge of tears at this point. I almost told them to forget everything and I'll leave and tell them what they can do with their miserable office. But somehow I decided to leave the urine sample anyway just to prove to them that I am what I said. myself to be. . So after that I went to the front desk and asked for my x-rays and everything back and left knowing that I will never go back to that clown again. I know their are better doctors out there who understand our condition. I just ran into one bad egg. But it's an experience you don't soon forget.

Carol.

- In , "winnagross" <lgross1@...> wrote:so when they roll me into the > operating room, I won't be wondering if I'm making the biggest, > unreversible, life changing "mistake" of my life.I've been almost housebound, I will go the grocery store > and/or do errands about twice a month. I will cook about once a > week, and do all of the food prep as I jokingly call it (old lady > style) which entails doing whatever I can do sitting down, with the > veggies in a bowl in my lap.ensure > that if my pain level doesn't improve that he will ensure that he'll > see to it that I get adequate pain medication. I have encountered a > lot of problems in getting a Dr. to prescribe anything effective > without making me feel guilty for getting it. My first visit with my > pain management dr. whom I was referred to by the surgeon who did my > last surgery angrily wrote out a prescription and said under his > breath "if you get this from anyone else you just found yourself > another doctor" - "we the pharmacies in this area will let us know if > you get it prescribed by someone else". > Thank you, everyone, for your sincere and real embrace!> > Gross>

[Guest guest]

Dear Carol,

I can not decide whether I am more mournful or infuriated at your

account of the bozo you saw from your insurance plan. I think I might

be tempted to report him to as many oversight groups and outfits as

possible. What a disrespectful, frightened, ignorant, and pitiful

excuse for a so-called pain doctor. I would also contest his

ridiculously padded bill. He is expecting an insane amount of money

for such a cursory semblance of a history and physical.

We should never have to put up with anyone like this, even once in a

lifetime, and yet there are too many stories of guys (and probably

some " gals " now and then as well) like him who, for unknown reasons,

purport to be practicing pain management while inflicting untold pain

on the prospective patient. Why they do not just give it up and hang

out a shingle in a whole other area of practice is beyond my

comprehension (unless they somehow get off on being sadists and

seeing how profoundly they can distress or humilate someone who comes

to them suffering and in need of expert help).

I am getting a little tired of their ongoing excuses having to do

with government persecution, since it is their choice to stay in pain

medicine -- often not advocating for patients, not working for

legislative or administrative or any kind of social change in this

area, just bitching and moaning and running scared at the very

mention of certain " loaded " terms such as " Oxycontin " while remaining

aloof from organized pain advocacy groups or any other kind of

responsible professional involvements to improve the situation from

an enlightened and compassionate stance -- sometimes hoodwinking

patients and insurance companies alike as to what their practice

really consists of. THEY are the people spreading " toxins, " albeit

metaphorically, to patients with serious long-term pain from

conditions such as ours. Some of the older fogies and more lax-in-the-

CME-area types, especially, tend to make that specious and antiquated

distinction between malignant and nonmalignant pain -- regarding

cancer patients (usually " terminal " ) as the only deserving or

legitimate candidates for effective narcotic medication.

My heart goes out to you, and I only wish I could get you an

immediate appointment with a decent and capable pain management

specialist. I thought your own response to this guy, as you related d

it, was outstandingly mature: civil yet appopriately assertive --

very impressive indeed, considering the extreme provocation you

encountered. I hope you have sufficient pain medication to hold you

until you can get to the kind of doctor you need and deserve.

I came across a very nice and rather impassioned sidebar on the

oxycontin debacle in one of my " pain " books and will try to find it

so as to excerpt it here. (The author is clearly one of the good MDs

dealing with pain.)

Shaking my head and tempted to utter a few profanities,

while in complete solidarity with you and support of you;

and with fervent hope that you will soon find appropriate, humane,

intelligent, enlightened, and truly attentive care,

> so when they roll me into the

> > operating room, I won't be wondering if I'm making the biggest,

> > unreversible, life changing " mistake " of my life.

>

> I've been almost housebound, I will go the grocery store

> > and/or do errands about twice a month. I will cook about once a

> > week, and do all of the food prep as I jokingly call it (old lady

> > style) which entails doing whatever I can do sitting down, with

> the

> > veggies in a bowl in my lap.

>

> ensure

> > that if my pain level doesn't improve that he will ensure that

> he'll

> > see to it that I get adequate pain medication. I have encountered

> a

> > lot of problems in getting a Dr. to prescribe anything effective

> > without making me feel guilty for getting it. My first visit with

> my

> > pain management dr. whom I was referred to by the surgeon who did

> my

> > last surgery angrily wrote out a prescription and said under his

> > breath " if you get this from anyone else you just found yourself

> > another doctor " - " we the pharmacies in this area will let us

know

> if

> > you get it prescribed by someone else " .

> > Thank you, everyone, for your sincere and real embrace!

> >

> > Gross

> >

>