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How do You Deal with Dangerous Doctor, Abusive Provider? Tips?
Most medical professionals are the greatest people in the world bc they choose work that helps humanity. (Or animals) But sometimes people with serious problems qualify for Medical licenses. They have a different face towards their peers who they seek acceptance from than they often have to their patients behind closed doors when they don't truly value patients as people. I had the misfortune of just concluding a year with an abuser.
This doctor was an independent PCP + based in an office without oversight, which is not unusual. I'm a single Senior woman. I was stricken w COVID twice+ then signed in with him for treatment of many debilitating unresolved symptoms. He looked good on paper in terms of credentials. He had openings and I needed a PCP.
He had an initial interest in deciphering my symptoms. Blood panels were perfect. He ordered an MRI to rule out a stroke bc of what was PASC but which he didn't acknowledge. The imaging revealed a meningioma brain tumor. However, the local neurosurgeon and 2 Top Ten specials indicated it was benign but untreatable for various reasons, but with the good news was that it was asymptomatic + not the cause of my symptoms. Repeated MRI showed no changes. It is expected to never become a problem. I am simply on tumor watch.
I moved to N Carolina after a lifetime on the other side of the country, just months before COVID arrived. Prior, I had decades long warm+ wonderful relationships with my doctors, who honestly never were wrong. They were just that good. But I didn't have any serious problems to require ongoing care for anything other than a disc injury that I recovered from without surgery. So I expected to continue on my same course after moving.
This PCP has real Dark Triad + sadistic pathologies. He began a campaign of doom for me, rejecting all above neuro reports+ hammering his view that my life was going downhill without any form of help. He rejected any other diagnosis like Post COVID. He was verbally+ emotionally abusive unlike anyone ever spoke to me. When I brought in a wrong form he called me by phone and said my mistake "WAS UNACCEPTABLE!" in a tone like 'BAD DOG!" He often sat w his back to me+ never look at me during visits, after. He's a large man+ his contempt+ arrogance were palpable. I have trauma from previous crime. I gave him a LEO phone number to call at their request + he refused, blasting me for a " conspiracy theory" + mandated that I may never mention it again. It was horrible. I posted here Nov I wanted to change Drs. Never got to. This guy began harassment by not reordering my 1 medication I take for several symptoms which also suppresses potential seizures tho he got multiple requests. He let the Rx run out over Thanksgiving then approaching Xmas. He saw me the day before Christmas Eve. I had not a full dose of meds for days. I said to him - he wasnt treating me for anything, I had no care plan + why couldn't be just refill my Rx in time. I had an deep infection beginning on my sternum + my BP standing was dropping to 70/30, at home, which he never took standing, after he walked in exam room.
He became infuriated! Cold controlled rage + contempt. He said, "We're done here, right now. You'll get a letter." Punctuated w his forefinger tapping the table. Shocked but ill, I asked to be transferred to another of the 20 Drs in the building+ he said absolutely not, that he won't allow me to be seen there. He said with dripping contemptuous sarcasm "Good luck finding another Dr. " I then told him he failed as a Dr much more. He was 100% statue like + non responsive to everything. We had a below zero rare freeze alert pending that night then Xmas long holiday. He renewed Rx but pharmacy was out of stock. I went back+ did get some but I ended up having my first seizure as soon as I could get home. Without timely care for the bacterial infection, it spread fast. In days when services reopened I needed office surgery + now I've been told I need thoracic surgery under general anesthesia to complete the tx. Dr said had I been treated timely none of this would have developed Lost my (minor PT) job bc I couldnt work. Was on antibiotics for a month w side effects. Biggest ending: He excoriated me in his final medical records, creating false impressions and distorted content. A vile smear job. Just FYI, my career was as an RN Specialist at the very top internationally recognized hospitals. I never mentioned this to him until he terminated me with callous disregard for my welfare, since I'm retired. He never asked about me. But I confronted him as a dangerous doctor. He was totally stunned. But caught. Dr E is not typical. But it does happen. It happened to me. He intended to extend his abusive reach into my future healthcare via medical records. But I'm blocking them + silencing his evil voice.
This is surely an anomaly. But it does happen to innocent patients behind closed doors of licensed medical professionals who are of the Dark Triad personality disorder w sadistic enjoyments.
I got a much needed cardiology consult on my own w problems identity, + under tx. I connected w someone for Post COVID tx + it's helping
These are all basic txs I could've had a yr ago.
Chest surgery is hopefully going to be easy. The surgeon is highly respected + known to be kind.
That's my nightmare story.
Any support would be appreciated. I'm still shaken by this. But moving forward.
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I'm SO with you on this. I really want to distill down where the system allows abuse and then do something about it.
You are the best person for this because you're so articulate and get to the core.
I'm seriously ready to create an action. I'm not in full health either but I can do the framing of the problem+ ideas for remediation in my laptop.
This really needs to stop. The medical profession ar the general PCP level has turned into a victimization machine for too many. The COVID excuse is no longer applicable. We have a new self-created patient care system that is NOT a model of health care delivery today should continue. We really need to change this.
I love the type of people I spent my career with in the medical profession. I don't recognize the industry anymore. And I want the bullying, disrespect+ false information for more reimbursement to stop.
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4 ReactionsIt is sad and no doubt true that there are inaccuracies in what we’re seeing in our portals now. I hope (or want to believe) that most are unintentional, perhaps transcription errors, forgetting to “un-check” the things on the standard exam list they didn’t do, or trying to pick the best billing code for the visit. Sadly, I know some bad doctors may do things intentionally, but pray that’s rare.
With that said, I think the portals are a terrific advancement for patients! Can you imagine what would go on if we didn’t see our portals? Yes, it can be a headache to get things corrected, but doctors are aware that we see a lot of our record now, so in the scheme of things, this helps patient advocacy and will help keep doctors and staffs more aware of needing to be more careful and accurate with patient records. It will take time, but hopefully working together with them to keep our records accurate will be easier as we get through the transition to complete transparency. In the meantime, if I see anything significantly out of whack, I contact the records administration link, or take the inaccurate report to my next visit.
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2 ReactionsI'm inclined to give GPs a ton of leeway in this period of system failure. They are being worked to the bone and are put under a lot of pressure to get patients in and out - without nearly enough time to do their job. They are supposed to be the triage doctor - take care of the small stuff, and help connect you to doctors when it's beyond general practice stuff.
But when GPs have no time to do their job well, the patient's experience is going to be miserable from the start. Everyone asks me, "well, isn't your primary care doctor helping you?" I always reply that she's aware, and gives me hour-long appts by making me the last appt of the day, but that is incredibly unfair to her. She's the first doctor I've ever had who listened to me, and I'm not throwing her under the corporate bus.
Ya know? GPs have it bad, which is just a sin. We ought to reverse the wage tree - make more GPs, treat them better, give patients better care.
Just my thoughts.
I just went through my 6th useless neurologist. This one is nice and it's not really his fault - but 6? In about 2 years, with incremental steps from some, huge, massive PTSD creating steps that take me backwards. It's so infuriating.
Imagine going to school that long and working in the kinds of conditions that they work in.
This didn't happen because of COVID. It's been coming for years - my grandfather, an ophthalmologist, who died in 1973, predicted this - he saw the trend beginning (at least that's what my dad says).
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2 ReactionsI appreciate that your comments underline that not all doctors are thrown into this category.
Luckily access to your health records allows you to take part in your care and that you are able to see the same information your providers see.
As per HHS.gov https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/access/index.html
"Providing individuals with easy access to their health information empowers them to be more in control of decisions regarding their health and well-being. For example, individuals with access to their health information are better able to monitor chronic conditions, adhere to treatment plans, find and fix errors in their health records, track progress in wellness or disease management programs, and directly contribute their information to research."
Fixing errors in your records may not be simple, but correcting errors is important for your health and wellbeing. Providers need complete and accurate information to provide you with the right care. You need to have confidence that the information shared about you between providers is accurate.
Here's a useful resource providing tips on how to make sure your health record is accurate — it’s your right.
- The Guide to Getting & Using Your Health Records https://www.healthit.gov/how-to-get-your-health-record/check-it/
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5 ReactionsColleen, I didn't write that title to imply in any way it was general and prevalent. I was referencing the exceptions. That's why it was singular. It was regrettably perceived different than intended.
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1 ReactionJust my opinion but I don't see any way that the title of this thread implies "that all doctors are " anything.
Colleen - thanks for the link. I didn’t realize how the rationale for patient access to medical records was so articulately outlined by the NIH. That was very useful.
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3 Reactions@nonobaddog and @rsfcowgirl, I've edited my reply above. The original title was plural and I edited it to the singular to better reflect the discussion. 🙂
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1 ReactionThanks, I'm glad you clarified that. It explains both interpretations.
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2 ReactionsColleen I didnt realize the title was orig plural! Thank you for clarifying that. I think you responsive information link is really important to many people. As was Becky's. I want to delete my original post if it was construed as insulting anyone else in the profession other than the PCP. Will they delete the thread with the links too?