Warren's latest NS appointment

[figmo]

Warren got turned down for surgery again yesterday.

This time the surgeon was really flip with him and stormed out on us like a five-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. The surgeon gave us all this hooey about how he "didn't see any hemmorrhaging" in the MRI (you can't see hemmorrhaging on an MRI unless it's severe) and told Warren "there's no pressure on [his] brain."

We tried asking questions, and that's when the guy exclaimed, "I don't have to give you a reason!" and started storming out. He didn't just walk out; his tone of voice sounded like a kid who insisted on having his own way. I asked what he did recommend as treatment given that the neurologist said he can't be treated with drugs. "I don't know, and I don't care."

I tried pointing out that Warren can't work. "Well that's not my problem!" he exclaimed.

"Then would you support a disability claim?"

"Absolutely not!"

Warren then tried to change the subject by asking him what a programmable shunt was. "It's a shunt where you can change the amount of fluid drained off, but that's irrelevant, because I'm not going to put a foreign tube in your head that drains fluid down to your stomach!"

Then he rushed out; all Warren could get in was "Bye, Doc!" behind him.

Warren wanted to know the dimensions of the cyst according to the new MRIs, but this guy wasn't even looking at the film.

Something is very fishy. We overheard him and another NS talking before the appointment (the NS was 15 minutes late), saying, "Something's wrong here." We couldn't hear further, but we had the feeling someone is ordering these guys to not operate. When the word "conspiracy" keeps coming up, and it's the doctors who keep using it (as in "There' s no conspiracy against you"), it makes you wonder.

Comments

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

First, you need to tell the neurologist that you need a new doctor recommendation - and tell him about the o-so-professional treatment this doctor gave.

Second, you might want to talk to the board which licenses doctors to doctor in your state. Ask them what is supposed to be the minimum priofessional standard for a doctor to maintain, then the expected full standard.

Third, after you get that doctor and tell him he violated the board rules for the state (I know he'll have missed them). Ask him if he wants a complaint sent to the board.

Last advice: from now on, bring a portable tape recorder with you with any doctor meets.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Sigh. Warren has decided not to file a complaint because he wants help from his HMO and is afraid he won't get it if he does.

I've been asking him to contact his Neurologist, and quite frankly I don't know why he hasn't yet called the guy (picture of me rolling her eyes). Actually, on second thought, I do; it's that huge thing smooshing his left temporal lobe and his hippocampus. :-(

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

*boggle* That is bloody bizarre. Have you ever been to that particular surgeon before?

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I hadn't seen this guy before, and AFAIK Warren hadn't.

My friends Jim and Melissa warned me about him, though. This guy operated on Jim's brain, and when Melissa (Jim's wife) had the "audacity" to ask the doctor how her husband was doing, this doctor tore into her, yelling at her instead of giving her information.

Given this, in some ways he was nicer than I had expected him to be.

[pafuts.livejournal.com]

This is NOT tolerable behavior in a doctor. If it were a book store clerk, okay, be annoyed don't go back. But this is Warren's BRAIN we're talking about here. This type of bullshit is going to kill someone!

Grrrrr...

Outraged on your behalf.

d***

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

Very very nasty of the physician. Two questions:

1. Is Warren willing to go through his HMO's grievance policy? California law on HMO client rights (http://www.opa.ca.gov/tips.asp) says that HMOs must have a grievance procedure.
   
2. Has Warren signed a power-of-attorney for health care purposes, either giving you power of attorney or someone else (hopefully an immediate family member)? A person who has power of attorney for health care purposes might be able to consult with an attorney about when and how it might be possible to use it, given that the issue is neurological.
   

Warren's right not to go after this particular sphincter-masquerading-as-a-surgeon, if for no other reason than it's not worth the time and energy right now. Getting treatment's more important.

Re: d***

[figmo.livejournal.com]

When the topic came up a couple of years ago, Warren didn't feel comfortable giving me "power of attorney" because a) I'm not family and b) I'm not Catholic. OTOH, he felt uncomfortable giving his folks "power of attorney" too, preferring to give it to his best friend (who is Catholic).

I wish he would give me PoA. I'm the one person who has nothing to gain by him croaking. OTOH, his major concern was being rendered a "human vegetable," and our viewpoints on euthanasia differ (he'd want to die so he could "go to heaven," I wouldn't because I don't believe in an afterlife).

[cellio]

How disgusting. I agree with the advice about firing up the HMO's grievance procedure. If he's not up to it, he should give you power of attorney so you can do it.

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

Lawyer up, *now*. What that doctor did was amazingly poor. Go back with a pet lawyer, and start standing on desks and shrieking malpractise.

He does have to explain it to you. That's part of being a doctor. I have never had a doctor refuse to explain a result, or the meaning of a term, or the reasoning behind a decision. This guy is an ass.

Had I been there, *he* would have needed a doctor.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

After talking with a few other folks, Warren is now waffling about reporting this turdball. We'll see what happens.

Our first task, though, is to get someone to operate on him.

What a dork!

[poltr1]

I have little tolerance for arrogant doctors who can't/won't check their ego at the door. He certainly did owe you an explanation.

If it was me, I would have looked the doctor in the eye and said, "You took an oath to help heal people. Know this: If this man dies because you refused to operate on him, then his death will be on your conscience for the rest of your life." I don't like confrontation, but when I feel like I'm backed into a corner, I come out fighting.....and I won't take "no" for an answer.

Re: What a dork!

[figmo.livejournal.com]

OTOH, if this guy is such a jerk, do I want my boyfriend's life in his hands?

Warren is now waffling about filing a complaint (an improvement from this morning). We'll see.

Re: What a dork!

[poltr1]

Good point. I was thinking about that this morning on the way to work. Would I want someone like that working inside my brain? Probably not. But then, I'd probably be under general anesthesia, so I wouldn't have to deal with him.

Any idea how his track record is as a surgeon? For all I know, he may be one of those prima-donnas who is great at what he does, but is an overall jerk in person. That reminds me of a certain well-known SF writer.

Good for Warren! I hope he files a complaint. (I think it's a Catholic trait, or part of the conditioning, to be meek and submissive.)

Re: What a dork!

[figmo.livejournal.com]

Any idea how his track record is as a surgeon? For all I know, he may be one of those prima-donnas who is great at what he does, but is an overall jerk in person.

According to my friends Melissa and Jim, he's a very good surgeon with no discernible bedside manner. When he operated on Jim's brain a few years ago, Melissa (Jim's wife) asked this doctor how Jim's surgery went and how he was doing. Instead of telling her, this surgeon tore into her about how he was "too busy operating" and other such crap to answer her questions, chewing her out for having the audacity to ask about someone's (her husband's) health.

[delennara.livejournal.com]

This is indeed bizarre...
*shakes head*
surgeons are known to have a temper, but...

[bardling.livejournal.com]

Gah. *hugs* That stinks.

Sorry, no helpful suggestions here other than encouragement to persevere...