Is this rude of a doctor?

Question

I am looking for a prenatal doctor. I tried a new clinic and told the doctor that i am currently on medical leave due to fainting, short of breathe and exhaustion making me weak (I have a very physical job). I only had my test results sent over to the new office.

This doctor said that it is strange that I am switching doctors so much (he is the thrid one I have checked out). I expalined that I am dizzy and tired, and hoping very soon to find 'the' prenatal doctor, as it is exhausting for me. He aksed why my whole chart wasn't sent over. I explained that I was not impressed with the last doctor as he wanted me on Proaz and i was not comfortable with that when pregnant. He said it looks strange that I don't have my whole chart sent over and that I am doctor jumping. He didn't believe me and refused to extend my medical leave because it all looks suspicious.

I felt insulted... am I over reacting? if he felt I didn't qualify that is fine.. but I felt he attacked me personally.

I have 'tried' three doctors becuase I am pregnant and looking for a prenatal doctor and I am also fairly new to town

I have to sign for him to see my chart from another clinic.. I had only signed to have my test results sent over to his office

Answer 1

I WOULD FEEL ATTACKED! Change doctors again and don't look back. I would try a midwife. You get alot more personal attention, and they are more sensitive to your needs. Good Luck.

Answer 2

OB/GYNs you would think have the most rewarding job, in fact quite the opposite. Pregnant women can be the most taxing patients on earth, the hours OBs practice are horrible, and they are one of the most often sued physicians. Their malpractice insurance is astronomical.

It is strange you are on your third doctor, I'd be concerned too. He cannot extend your medical leave on your first visit without reading your chart and/or consulting with your previous physician. Physicians go through a lot of training and invest a lot of money, they are held to high standards and hold many professional licenses/degrees. They need to (and should) protect their professional license by practicing responsibly.

That said if you don't feel comfortable with a health care practitioner, you have every right to switch but switching more than once over a few months time usually raises some concern, especially if you don't have your entire chart brought over or sent over with you.

The BBB isn't going to help you with a complaint about a physician, if you have a complaint, contact your state medical licensing board. I don't see where you'd have a complaint here though.

Answer 3

Yeah, I'm curious too -- why haven't you just stuck with one?

But, that said, a lot of them are going to be suspicious -- and rude -- about:

-- wanting leave
-- switching doctors
-- anti-depressants

Best thing to do, I find, is act like a moron. Assuming, of course, you're planning on sticking with this one. Oh, you're just bewildered! Ask some questions that aren't too thick-witted but that aren't too complicated -- you know, "Can I take Tylenol while I'm pregnant?" and act fascinated by the answers.

As for why you left the last doctor -- well, his first name is 'Simon,' and there was a 'Simon' in your middle school who picked on you all the time. Some rubbish like that. Don't impugn the godliness of physicians to their faces!

Your whole chart isn't in his office? Offer to rush out the door to pick it up and hand-deliver it to him within the hour, "if necessary." It won't be, but in lieu of looking like you might have something to hide, metaphorically barf all over his nice clean floor. Does he want to make a copy of his write-up on you for you to give to your old doctor, does he think that would be useful? Etc, etc.

I find being a bit stupid here and there, and acting as though you'll take anything he says as gospel, works well on physicians -- even on ones I'm not seeing as a patient. Some have an ego problem, some just work with a lot of junkies and have their BS sensors tuned a little too tightly.

Answer 4

I think maybe you're taking it all a little too personally. He had good cause to be suspicious and in his line of work he DOES come across alot of dishonesty. Without your complete chart it can only look suspicious to him. If you feel he'd be a great doctor minus this one incident, get your complete chart to him ASAP and at your next appointment just lay it all out on the line and let him know you weren't trying to deceive him and that you find him to be a very good doctor. From there he ought to relax and drop the issue. He's only human so give him a second change. If you were in his shoes wouldn't you question it too?

Answer 5

This is exactly how doctor's are trained to respond to a situation like this. Even if you're not trying to manipulate the system, plenty of people do. Why not just send over the whole chart? That's sounds so much simpler.

Answer 6

OB/Gyn doctors are under extreme pressure today. I believe they are the most sued group of doctors out there. This one was quite concerned about you and he/she wanted to know all they could about you before they accepted you as a patient.

In any case, it appears you are off to a bad relationship so I'd suggest you find another. Just try to understand the pressures they have in today's market.

Considering what they must pay to insurance companies, sometimes I think they'd make more money a working as a nurse.

Answer 7

You are in the right for this. I am reminded of many of my friends and family members who go to doctors for many reasons: for diabetes, for back problems, for arthritis, and so on. They always tell me that it's always good to get a second opinion from another doctor. It's perfectly fine that you are trying to find a doctor that suits your needs, and you shouldn't feel bad about it at all. Doctors are supposed to be open, to listen to your concerns, to not make judgments on the patient, and to be straightforward...but not in the way he was towards you. He had no right saying what he did and making you uncomfortable because of something that isn't your fault. He, the new office, and the office from the previous Doctor are responsible to get that chart sent over, and he had no right blaming it on you, saying it was "suspicious". I think your best bet is to do these things: go to the Better Business Bureau to have him reported, or talk to the doctor and find out more about the files and what exactly he meant, or find another doctor. Good Luck.

Answer 8

I think this doctor is covering himself. You should actually take this inquiry as the fact that he is very thorough. It may truly seem odd to him about you changing doctors so much. I don't think it was a personal attack as more as him trying to find out exactly what your intentions are. How could he possibly extend your medical leave when he has no medical basis to go on. Try providing him with the answers he needs and see if you may have a better repor with him.

Answer 9

No he did NOT attack you personally. He was doing HIS job. He can NOT extend your medical leave based solely on what YOU say. If that were true then THOUSANDS of women would be going to doctor after doctor getting medical leave extensions. He can't by LAW give you what you want without ALL of the pertinent information in his hands. Frankly from what I've read here I'm thinking he is right about you doctor hopping.

Answer 10

Yes, it is YOUR health and YOUR baby's health. You have every right to find a doctor that is suited to you and your needs. Why didn't he just call the other doctor to get the rest of the file sent over? At any rate, it doesn't sound like he is the right doctor for you. I would recommend that you continue to look. Have a safe pregnancy and congrats!

Answer 11

No, you're fine. Doctors are people not to trust. Like cops. I think it's a well known thing throughout the world by now. These are people who work within an infrastructure. I wouldn't trust one of these dogs if my life depended on it, and have had ample experience and evidence with such to arrive at that conclusion. Few if any doctors are prosecuted in a court of law for the crimes they commit. That should tell you something.