Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, You Can Fire A Doctor Or Other Medical Specialist

Dear Lit Loves,

Oh wow, am I reading the best memoir presently about an ordinary woman who was going about her day.  She had the flu, was in the midst of a divorce, and rushing around trying to make a brunch date with a friend in New York when she crossed the street and had a McDaddy coughing spell that caused a tear in her dura mater (membrane surrounding brain and spine).  Guess what?  She then starts having excruciating headaches to the point that she is unable to sit up straight for five minutes at a time.  What was the cause of all this?  She had a tear in her dura mater in the spinal region and her cerebrospinal fluid was leaking into her body.  Upon having this medical matter investigated, she was given tests, seen by a neuro-opthalmologist and referred to an Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon.  The ENT surgeon was only trained and skilled in treating cerebrospinal fluid leaks that occur in the nasal and head area. Spontaneous cerebrospinal leaks can happen not just in the face and skull, but also in the spine.  When the ENT surgeon entered the examination room and found this woman lying down, he told her to "Get up."  Then he proceeded to belittle her symptoms, tried to get her to lean forward to obtain any cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the nasal area, and thought she must be making up this medical issue because he could see no signs of the type of spinal fluid tear he treats.  He did not admit that there are other locations where a tear in the dura mater can occur and that a tear in the spinal region of the body would cause a patient to exhibit the symptoms this nice woman was trying desperately to explain to him.  In fact, he did not even treat her respectfully until her husband, who is an attending physician at the same hospital, entered the exam room and started debating him about his wife's medical symptoms. 

Oh law, I know how this feels.  And let me tell you that just because someone has an M.D. beside their name and a business card with a medical specialty written on it, does not mean they graduated best in their class nor does it mean he/she is a doctor with a professional bedside manner.  Trust me, I have come across plenty of chauvanistic, arcane, and highly suspect medical specialists.  I sometimes think they make a beeline straight for me. 

For example, all of a sudden my migraine neurology office coordinator calls to inform me that the neurologist I had been seeing for my tension migraines no longer works at the facility.  No explanation whatsoever.  Then I find that I have been reassigned to another neurologist in the same practice.  The red flags are already waving for me medically and personally.  I figure I will give the new neurologist a try while I attempt to discover why my previous, well-qualified and highly professional neurologist is no longer at the facility.  So I go see the new neurologist who happens to be Chief of Migraine and Pain Management.  I wait fifty minutes and the man enters the exam room, does not introduce himself, sits down at a computer, and proceeds to stare at the computer and ask me about my medical history.  He then says, "I don't really treat migraines."  

Hold up, buddy.  I am now just down right flabbergasted.  "Wait," I say rather calmly I might add, "you are the chief of migraine and pain management and you don't treat migraines?"
"No," he returns,"I rarely deal with migraine patients."
"Well," I reply, "if YOU don't then please tell me who does so I can stop wasting my time here."
"Oh," he replies, "I've seen enough cases and talked with enough migraine specialists that I can probably help you."  So he changes the dosage of one of my two migraine medications, finally turns around to address me face to face, compliments my dress, and then leaves. There was no physical exam performed whatsoever.  I know what you are thinking because it most likely is exactly what I was thinking right then:  What the hell?!!

So I give this neurologist one more chance.  At the next year's annual appointment I wait for an hour and twenty minutes.  Nurses and technicians keep coming to my exam room saying the neurologist is having difficulty with the patient ahead of me.  Finally, the neurologist's resident strides into the exam room, asks how I am doing, sends refills of my migraine prescriptions to my preferred pharmacy, never does any kind of physical exam, and then walks with me down to the copy machine room to retrieve my visit summary notes.  Guess who is sitting in the copy machine office with his feet up on a desk and hands behind his head?  The neurologist that was supposed to be examining me and performing my annual migraine exam.  The resident informs him that she has taken care of my appointment today.  He does not acknowledge her nor does he see that I, his former patient, am standing right there behind him.

So I called the facility's patient advocacy department, inform them of this doctor's extreme negligence, and complete a complaint summary which I then email to the patient advocacy coordinator.  I also detail that I am firing this neurologist and give a list of reasons why.  Luckily, my previous neurologist who DOES treat migraines has now opened her own practice.  I obtain a referral to her and am once again in great hands when it comes to my migraine management and treatment.  But heaven help the suckers who continue to see the neurologist that I wrote a complaint about because hi is still practicing at the same facility.  And to my knowledge, migraine patients continue to be referred to him to this very day.

Ladies and gentlemen, do not accept substandard care from anyone in medicine.  If they belittle you, disrespect you, give you a reason to doubt them, or act like they are God's gift to the universe, my advice is to GET THEE TO ANOTHER MEDICAL SPECIALIST QUICKLY.  And do not be afraid to report any kind of mistreatment or negligent care on the part of any doctor or medical specialist when it comes to your medical care or the medical care of a family member, friend, or acquaintance.  Your life and someone else's most likely depends on you being the best medical advocate possible. My advice:  ADVOCATE LOUDLY AND OFTEN!!

Till my next post,
Grace
(Amy)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find Out What It Means To Me

Dear Lit Loves,

I just wanted to give my heartfelt admiration here online to the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin.  I was just informed she has died at the tender age of seventy-six.  She was the first woman inducted into the Rock n'Roll Hall of Fame.  She stood up for civil rights and feminists with her song, RESPECT.  I remember singing it as a little girl with my best friend;  we were inspired and fired up.  And frankly, I think respect is what most of us are looking for these days when it is so hard to come by with all the vitriol and hatred in the world today.  I hope I do as much as I can to spread Aretha Franklin's message.  And I urge literary agents to also give new writers a chance to earn a little RESPECT by signing a little-known writer who could perhaps continue to carry on a legacy of teaching RESPECT in a world gone wild.  Rest in peace, Aretha Franklin.  I will always remember you and your inspiration.

Best,
Grace
(Amy)