Have you encountered a rude doctor? What did you do?

Philippines
October 10, 2008 9:13am CST
As some of you know, I've been admitted last week at one of the hospitals here in the city. I had my insurance to cover for me but little did I know that it would be complicated (not financially though but the process). I didn't have the chance to choose my regular physician who I'm seeing for the past 6 years for my check-ups. They said they will choose one for me and they chose the "coordinator" of the insurance who will refer me. We were very careful at that time so we let them get on with it. I may not be released since we have a hunch that the doctor has control over the paper works. He didn't even bother to tell me something that I did not know. It's always "Let's wait for the test", "Have you undergone this procedure already?", and the clincher "you look fine to me.". I said to myself wow. I had a mild stroke and that's the best he could say. The next day, it got worse. Translated to English, he said "We're here to help but we're not helpers. We will come here when we want to. If you want you could leave right now.". I stayed quiet as again, I may not be released since he was the attending physician. But as I got out, I reported it immediately and informed the hospital admins and our family physician. Another doctor took care of me before the day I was discharged and I appreciated his service a lot. I wasn't surprised a while ago when our family doctor told us that just before we went in for my check-up, another patient complained about that doctor. Have you encountered a doctor who was rude to you or to someone you know who was sick? What have you done about it? Take care and stay healthy.
2 people like this
15 responses
@kaezy_kulet (2465)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
We have resident physicians like that..i do not know if he is also rude to the patients or just to us nurses..physicians should not treat patients like that..if not for the patient they would not have the experience they have now..they would not have the money to support their every day needs..patients came to the hospital to be relieved from their sickness, to have a rest they need..patients did not come to the hospital to be treated that way..if i were the one treated that way i will report it to proper authorities..he doesn't have the right to own a license..it is so unbecoming of a physician..there are associations who can revoke his license when proved that he have done something wrong,..
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
You're absolutely right sis. Patients should not be treated that way. My family doctor said the similar thing you mentioned. Let's leave him be for now. He must have needed the money more than anybody else. He revealed to me some hospital politics between some of the admins, physicians, and insurance companies. Well, that ain't very professional and it's unfair to both the patient and in our case, our family physician. I was already strong and got my 100% strength back when he last visited me (he didn't even show up when I got discharge. He sent his fellows and residents instead.) and I controlled myself hard enough not to punch him in the face right then and there. I do admire those who handles the patient-doctor relationship well. Take care sis.
• Philippines
13 Oct 08
Thank you sis. Yeah, I'm doing better now. I've been thinking about punching him even after we left but I still controlled it. I just have to deal with my work now. I realized that I don't like my job. I don't like what I'm doing. It has perks and a few more benefits but the work is still tiring. It's affects my BP now and it's dangerous. I could stay for a short while. Maybe 2 months or so and I'll look for another job. Too bad, I can't exercise yet. I got an update though. I was contacted by the VP of customer relations of that hospital. Now, we're going somewhere, err, to someone. Take care!
• Philippines
12 Oct 08
good thing you have controlled yourself then..it still not right to punch him even if he had treated you very unprofessionally..i hope you will continue to do good..always be careful with your health bro so that you will never see the face of that doctor again
• United States
10 Oct 08
This past June, I was extremely sick with food poisoning. Well, we went to the hospital to see if there was anything they could do to help me. I honestly should have been admitted. Anyways, here's the story. So, the doctor comes in and tells me that I need to do a pee test after she examines me. I do the pee test. You can tell that I was very dehydrated because I couldn't keep any food down. So, while i'm waiting for all of the test results to get back, I am in so much pain with my stomach that I started crying. The doctor comes in and tells me that I have a urinary tract infection. NO I DON'T!!! If I can't hold down any food, and have all the symptoms of food poisoning, don't tell me it's an UTI! So, when I try to tell her that it's not a urinary tract infection and that I need to be admitted, she told me "No, it's a UTI." Her attitude just stunk to high heaven. She treated us like dirt because we didn't have insurance. We will no longer be going to that hospital as long as i'm alive. I should have been admitted because I was very sick.. but that's their loss.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
I really don't condone such things as being treated differently because you had no insurance. She could have at least explained to you better why she had that conclusion so it wouldn't have gone that way. She could have checked for signs of food poisoning instead of fixating on the UTI. Nevertheless, we still have the right to choose whichever provider (either physician or facility) especially if we encounter people who are not that sensitive about the patient's condition. Take care. I hope you're fine now.
• United States
11 Oct 08
I am feeling much better! Thank you! :)
@alena824 (376)
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
I'm sorry about your experience. A couple of weeks ago, I needed to undergo major surgery and since I was also using a health insurance card, I needed to see a doctor accredited by the HMO. I have been very fortunate to find one who not only took very good care of me, but the other secondary physicians who were called in for my case were just as caring. It was actually one of my worries before going through with the surgery, but it was something that needed to be done immediately. I am actually very thankful that it was this HMO which handled my case because I am really very satisfied with their service. My doctors always made it a point to check up on me the whole time I was confined at the hospital, and they really showed their concern when I raised some issue about my condition to them. I hope that other physicians really take to heart what they had sworn to do.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
I'm glad you had a great experience with your health care providers and you were really well taken cared of. If only all doctors were like that. I'm still thankful that I have recovered and I can go back to work again. But I won't let that pass. I have received some correspondence from the hospital. I'll be visiting them anytime next week and give the official complaint form to them as they requested. Take care and stay healthy.
• United States
11 Oct 08
Me and my mom took my brother to the hospital once and the doctor was horrible there. I understand that some people do not know how to act around someone like my brother, he has down syndrome and autism. But for the doctor not even to look at him, thats outrageous. My bro was complaining of his ears and began to dig and beat at them. We took him to the er because it was late at night and we would not be able to get him to his regular doctor for a few days. The doctor walks in, we explain he is having problems with his ears, the doctor stands so far away from my bro there was no way for him to look into his ears, says yep he can see why they hurt(all he saw was the scratches), and prescribed a liquid narcotic pain med. First of all he scartched them up because they hurt, second he doesn't take liquid medications well, which we told him and the nurse. My mom demanded to talk to the doctor again, but he wouldn't see her. When leaving someone asked how the visit went and my mom ended up talking to the head of the hospital that was there that night and lodged a complaint against him.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
How insensitive of that doctor. He must have cared less about your brother. He should have listened well about the condition of your brother so he could treat it better. Not just to give pain medications to relieve him from the scratches. He should have know that there is a reason why he did that. I'm sorry to hear that star. Well, it's a good thing your mom had a chat with the hospital admin. Take care.
@neilchua (888)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
hi zero, it's been awhile huh? well i hope you're ok now. well haven't encountered that kind of attitude from a doctor before. i just hope it won't happen to me or to anyone because i really don't know how i will react. i just wish you good health and still be thankful that you're ok. God Bless.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
Neil! How are you doing bro? Hope you're doing great. Yeah, I'm still thankful that I'm very lucky as I've had this 3 times already and I'm still at 100% right now. Ugh... can't wait to see him pay for what he did to me and the rest of his patient he treated that way. God Bless you too bro.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
10 Oct 08
There are lots of such Doctors..My mother is a high Blood pressure patient and one doctor went to the extent of saying that[/i]No use of medication Ma'am,It looks like a helpless case to me[i] i don't know what happens to their oath of service after they join their jobs..may be they simply erase it from their memory..We didn't do anything about that doctor and attended another doctor referred by a family friend..
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I'm totally with you on this. Aside from taking their oath, there's always a better way of saying things like that. I'm sorry to hear that you've had such experience with a doctor. We did the same thing though. I totally neglected that doctor and I never went back to him again. Sigh.. not sure why though. Some may not really care what they'd say some may not know how to say it. Take care to you and your mom.
@arthi_88 (1516)
• India
10 Oct 08
Thank you for being concerned and Have a nice day.
@hey_baby (425)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
i had this one doctor who said i've endometriosis and that the mass can be removed by surgery, but will keep on coming back and that "i'll have that till the day i die"... she could've said "as long as you love" would have been much better..
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
Yeah, there's really a better way of saying things right? (sigh) Some of them are just insensitive about their patients. It would have been better if the doctor would say for a lifetime. Our family physician told me nicely as well that my condition needs secondary care already and I would have to take the medicines for a lifetime. Take care.
• United States
10 Oct 08
Yes, I was having urinary tract infections and I went to the doctor to get them checked out and he gave me this look like he liked me or something. Anyways he asked me if I was sexually active at the time and I said no and he placed his hand on my leg and asked me if I was sure, it made me feel really uncomfortable. After that he didn't even check me out at all and assumed anything and besides I have check ups all the time that say i'm clean. The doctor was really rude and made me leave because told him he was wrong, oh well I went somewhere else and they gave me medicine for my tract infection and I have been good every since.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
That's just plain rude. It would have been fine since it could really be a reason why you have UTI. But it does seem inappropriate the way he may have looked at you and the condescending tone he may have when he asked you if you are sure you aren't active. Get well soon. Oh, and I felt the same way last week about my doctor. Take care.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Oct 08
zeroflash hi If I had a do ctor who was really rude to me, he would soon not be my do ctor. I have had the same doctor for years and he was very rarely rude, most of the time very'caring and very professional. I guess I have been very lucky but all the do ctors I have had over the years have been really caring. When I was hospitalized for bleeding diverticulitis I had about four doctors and they were all really wonderful, all wo rking to try to stop the bleeding and find out what was c ausing it. You should have raised cain with that rude doctor as you dont have to put up with that at all, there are other doctors who are not rude. You have to make yourself known though, not just take it.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
Yeah, I never visited him again. Too bad, he wasn't there yesterday. We were looking for him and we'd really like to have a "fun" chat with him. He was among the very few who had been rude to us. Most of our doctors are nice and easy to get along with, and they're very passionate about their work and caring for us patients. I blurted out the politics inside the hospital and that doctor. I'll continue to go up until it gets acted upon. Take care!
@skbh12 (2946)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
[b]hi zeroflashx2! since i work in a hospital as a nurse, i get to bump to lots of rude doctors. it may be anytime of the day or anytime of the week. hahaha!! if they show me rudeness, i don't do anything but ignore the things they do and say to me because no matter what you do or say, you will still be considered wrong in their ears and their eyes. the more it will cause you commotions and all so i just keep silent and when the doctor is gone, that is the time i tell my superior of how the doctor acted on me when he or she talked to me. 2 days ago, i encountered this doctor who is a diabetologist. i did something wrong with the order she made and i have admitted what i did was wrong. it was just the gesture that made me not so happy about. she started scolding me infront of my colleague and she raised her hand holding a clear envelope as if she wanted to hit me with it. if only she knew that i was the daughter of the owner of the hospital she is currently associated in, i bet she wouldn't do such a thing. haha! but i just let it pass. she was a bit young maybe around 30 to 40's i think. to me, being scolded for the acts which i know i have done something wrong is okay but with this kind of hand gesture, instead of me looking up to her the way i see her now is she is lower than my me. i have started looking down on her.. happy posting and happy mylotting![/b]
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
That doctor wasn't very nice. (sigh) She must have had a very bad day but still. That gesture isn't appropriate. Everybody commits mistakes, even doctors. Of course, it's fine to be scolded by superiors at some point but it's the manner how. It should be constructive in a way that it will help you improve instead of making you feel really bad about it. Good thing you mentioned it to your superior. btw, that's nice. Your family owns a hospital. Take care.
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I tried a new doctor about 5 years ago and he was very rude. His so called examination of me was a lecture. He never touched me, didn't even check my blood pressure. I finally got fed up, told him he was fired and I went elsewhere. I also refused to pay for that so called exam. Doctors need to realize they WORK for us. We don't have to see them. We can see whomever we wish. And I have no problem reminding a rude doctor of that fact either.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
Excellent point there as well. Yeah, we're the one's paying them and they have the guts to be rude. It's part of their job and if they can't handle it. They'd be better off not practicing at all. Part of their jobs is to interact with the patient. They should first gain the trust of each other right? Since it's all about the patient health. Sadly, a lot of rude doctors are out there. Good thing there are still a lot of good ones.
@apples99 (6556)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Yes, I have encountered many rude docters and I usually just change docters through my insurance, I dont understand why someone would become a doctor if they dont care about people and dont have a good bed side manner, I have encountered docters who have miss prescribe medicines and were out right mean and very short with there answers to questions, and because of those negative experience's I sometimes dread going to the docters office or hospital but I know that I have to continue to stay healthy with regular visits to the doctor.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
Yeah, even though we encounter rude doctors and even hospital staff, we have to take care of our health still and have ourselves checked. Yeah, doctors make quite a lot of mistakes as well. That doctor I mentioned doesn't even have an idea what I had. I knew what the diagnosis was before he did. I would say the service he gave me was incompetent. I'm just not sure about his other patients but again, yesterday, 2 of us complained about him. Take care and stay healthy.
@belk89 (1103)
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
We experience that too when my husband and i went to see a doctor since i was suffering from Urinary tract infection. When the doctor came my husband asked if its ok for me to drink craberry juice since he think it will help cure my UTI but the doctor interrupted not letting my husband explain why he thinks it is good for me. She said she knows what is best for me and craberry juice does not cure UTI but it only prevents it from getting worst. I just feel at that point she should have let my husband talk before she shares her views about it. There are doctors who are rude and we cant really avoid that. They think they are know better than us coz they have studied medicine. But honestly with the way some doctor act infront of there patient i think less of them.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
So do I my friend. Yeah, they are the doctor and they know what to do but they should give ample respect to their patients as well. He wouldn't have known what your husband would say. It's perfectly fine to say that it won't. As one of my friends would say, there's a better way of saying no without having to say the word "no". Take care.
@thanujad (405)
• Sri Lanka
10 Oct 08
Yes there are some doctors who are very rude and does not like to talk to pationts. This happend to me when I got my first Gastric attack. It was late night and I couldnt see my GP at that time. So I went to the hospital and saw this perticular Doctor and I explained and told him my symptoms. This Doctor didn't utter a word and started writing a long list of medicines. While he was writing I wanted to know the reason of my illness but this person put his hand up and asked me to be quiet. Then I waited till he finished writing and asked him the same question. But without replying to me question, he asked me to take those medicines and wanted me to leave. I was afraid to take those medicine because he did not tell me the reason. Then I called a friend of mine who is a Doctor and told him what happend and I read the medicines that doctor prescribed. Then he explained and told me that I'm having a Gastric attack and take those medicines immediatly as I was suffering. I still cannot understan why he couldn't tell me the reason without being so rude.
• Philippines
11 Oct 08
I definitely agree with you. That doctor was just so rude. Some of them may have forgotten or basically forgot that most of us do not visit them just to be cured. We want to understand what's going on as well. It was totally understandable if you're hesitating to take those medicines. Good thing you have a friend who is a doctor who explained it to you.
@pkraj111 (2458)
• India
10 Oct 08
Once we took a friend of mine to a government hospital as it is the nearest available. My friend had an accident and the doctor started asking lot of stupid questions like how it happened and has it been reported to police etc., He did not even check the patients condition. We got irritated and another friend of mine called his uncle who is a police officer. He was attended 30 mins late and later their parents filed a case against that doctor.
• Philippines
10 Oct 08
I'm sorry to hear that. The doctor's priorities seem to have been interchanged. How it happened, could be a good question to diagnose how he could be treated but to ask about police matters, it should have been left for the police. Yeah, your friend's well-being should have been the top priority at that time. Once he's stable and in better condition, that's the best time to ask the follow-ups. These days, even big private hospitals have such doctors. (sigh) Too bad we can't do anything much. Take care.