How do You Deal with Dangerous Doctor, Abusive Provider? Tips?

Dear @rsfcowgirl ,

first of all, thank you so much for a long email that must have cost you a lot of energy just to write.
It is terrible that you had to experience something so awful. I am sorry it happened to you.
Unfortunately, I believe that there are different nuisances in doctors' behaviors. Although there might not be (I hope!) many around resembling your horrible doctor, I do think there are more bad doctors than kind doctors out there. - Or so is my experience because even though the really mean ones might be few, there is a very high number of indifferent, uninterested doctors who could not care less. I have met a few of them.
What makes it especially bad, is that it is when we are at our most vulnerable and weak level, that we need them the most. And so, whatever wrong they might do, has a much greater impact on us - both physically and mentally, when we are very sick.

I think doctors should be under the supervision of an independent organization that sends someone to check on them (& control how they behave and how they treat their patients) several times a year.
The problem, I believe, is that they feel all too secure and powerful the way it works now. And that alone is enough to make them behave badly because once they have finished medical school and internship, they pretty much are on their own, and can do whatever they please.

My situation may not be as life threatening but I stupidly rolled out of bed and fractured my clavicle. ER recommended I be seen quickly by a surgeon and suggested a practice. I got an appointment the next business day. I was waiting and in rolled the doctor, late of course I guess he had his nasty shot. Looked at my X-ray, said no surgery needed just wear a sling for 6-8 weeks. Before I could ask any questions (follow up X-rays, physical therapy out he went. No nurse came as I was preparing to leave.

After about 4 weeks I saw my PCP and was really pi**ed off. He examined my shoulder and said I was developing a frozen shoulder and need to be seen. The first place I tried declined the case, their top doc reviewed and also felt there was a better doctor. They both recommended the same surgeon. That appointment was night and day. He came in showed my X-ray and declared “this won’t heal. He laid out all the options and thoroughly explained the surgery. Had surgery the next week. I had a follow up surgery to remove the hardware 6 months later. He told me that it was required due to the location and displacement of the clavicle. Sat and talked and answered all my questions Amazing! I would definitely use him again if needed. So happy ending even if it took 6 months to get proper care. Bonus points: Besides being a great surgeon he is a hottie!

I went to an ER for something unrelated to the issue they found during a routine CT scan. They found an aortic aneurysm with a tear in it so they told me I was being transferred to a trauma hospital for emergency surgery.

Once I got to this trauma hospital they checked and confirmed what the other hospital found. But he said that I would need to go back to the hospital for surgery however it wasn’t bleeding so he said that he felt I was stable enough to discharge me and to contact my cardiovascular surgeon.

I made the appointment for the next day as the hospital had said to see him ASAP.
He was immediately annoyed that I made an appointment with him.
I was due for my annual checkup the following two weeks.

He downplayed the whole encounter and said I had nothing to worry about. The echocardiogram confirmed the aneurysm with the tear but he didn’t tell me the size and I forgot to ask him..

He abruptly said “see you in a year “ and walked out. Before he left I asked him if it could burst ( mostly a quick fatal occurrence). And he nonchalantly said “it could but we have ways to treat that” Hospitals always say ASAP, don’t worry “

No there isn’t. You don’t know it unless it burst and then it’s an emergency where you could bleed to death. He actually laughed and said it wasn’t a big deal!

Maybe it was small and didn’t need surgery right away but knowing how small or big would have given me a benchmark to monitor by.
He rushed the appointment as he had other patients waiting for him and I was interrupting him.

Two different hospital cardiovascular surgeons said I needed surgery but my doctor made light of it and told me to see him the following year.

What a jerk he was. Made me feel like I was being a baby and I shouldn’t have been there. The receptionist was not a happy camper either and rushed me out. I’m thinking of getting another opinion as I don’t trust this guy but I’m reluctant to do so. Any clue?

Oh sorry I didn’t realize I was rambling!

Dr P is respected amongst his peers. Reviews show that he is one of the best in the State.
But he’s a jerk. Maybe being near the top of the pile he thinks he knows better.

Even if he’s laughing about it I still would like to know what size it is. It could be real small or large but I don’t know that.
There are a lot of vascular surgeons around me to pick from and perhaps I should start “shopping “ for somebody with good bedside manners. Somebody to take me seriously

There's a seduction from the social prestige that many doctors attain that creates an offensive elitism and arrogance. That's an unfortunate corruption within them. The truly fine doctor at the top of the top are often the most approachable and humble, and sincerely relate to patients. I'm thinking that we as patients need to unionize lol so all Docs provide certain basics or else they don't get paid. What do you think?
Wishing you the best

I’m with you

Question

How to go about getting your films? Who has them? They always seem to “get lost “ is it the hospital? Is it my PCP? Is it my cardiovascular surgeon who doesn’t want to hear from me until next year? Does he has to give them to me without insulting him? Should I care?
My PCP works out of a clinic and is not affiliated with any hospital.

Our visits are approximately 10 minutes every 3 months and he has a tendency to talk over me and doesn’t show genuine interest in my issues as he doesn’t give me time to mention my concerns.

It’s just yeah yeah you’ll be fine see you in 3 months. And his staff takes over to inject me with a flu vaccine and weight me and take my vitals. The whole visit takes about 15 minutes if you include the flu vaccine.

Oh THANK YOU so much. This is perfect. Yes, I can do this. It is necessary also in behalf of other patients too. This Dr was dishonest with Medicare billing. He often added in major serious conditions in the reason for office visit that I had years ago that I didn't have while under his care to get more money. They'll surely object to that alone.
Thank you for giving me a great solution to help me with this out as it should be handled. Blessing!!!

In my experience, you can ask for a disk copy of your images at the time they are taken. Otherwise they are at the location where they were taken. Obtaining a copy of them after however often requires making a written request thru radiology records Dept. Many hospitals + imaging services now have direct computer viewing access to images by other medical + outside experts. This is arranged without transfer of actual disk copies. It's computer viewing. When you select a 2nd opinion source, you can ask them if they participate in this tech option. Authorization for release is still required and can be done online.