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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 19:08:27
My psychiatrist sent me a letter asking me not to come back. I am furious. I already hate all people anyway. How is this supposed to help me? How am I supposed to get help? It took me months to get the courage to actually go to a doctor in the first place? How do I find a replacement? I read the above posts about "Changing Therapists" and I don't even know if I should go to a man or a woman. Insurance dictates I must go to a doctor in my network directory so I was just staring at the list of names wondering if I should pick based on names I like or names I don't like.
I am taking Zoloft right now which, since the letter, i am convinced is the wrong medication for me. I believe my doctor never cared about me at all and just subscribed Zoloft for no reason whatsoever (maybe just so I could gain more weight and be more miserable since I think a zoloft side effect is weight gain and I've already gained 35 pounds)? I am thinking about stopping my medication to see what happens... but that's not the issue.
I think I will be worse without medication... so ultimately i will need to see a doctor and I don't have the first clue about how to find someone who is compatible since my problem is that I am not compatible with anybody under any circumstances whatsoever..
Isn't that the job of the doctor? To help you?
Posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 19:10:52
In reply to Dumped by my PDoc via letter, posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 19:08:27
Right now I am thinking about how my doctor is such a loser! He couldn't even tell me not to come back in person? He couldn't even give me any advice about what to do next. It makes me wish i never met him in the first place.
I also wonder if there is any way I can file a complaint about him to some association? Can I sue him for inadequate treatment?
Posted by fallsfall on June 10, 2003, at 19:33:36
In reply to Re: Dumped by my PDoc via letter, posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 19:10:52
He sounds very unprofessional, rude and mean. That is certainly not the way they are taught to handle patients. Did he give you any reason? What a jerk!
To find a new doctor, try to get referrals from some people you know. Start with your regular doctor, also if you see any specialists - you don't have to have an appointment, just call and ask for a referral. If you know anyone who is "in the business" (a therapist, someone who works in a Dr. office, or an emergency room), they will give you great referrals. If you have any friends or relatives who have seen a psychiatrist find out if they liked the one they saw. Ask your rabbi/minister/priest. It sounds like you don't socialize a lot, so you may not have too many people to ask, but what about your next door neighbor? You could even go to a drug store and ask the pharmacist (I don't know if they could give you a name, but it might be worth a try).
Hopefully one or more of those names will be on your insurance list.
If your pdoc is basically doing medication management then I don't know that it matters so much if they are male or female. That comes into play more with someone who is doing therapy with you.
You should be able to find a reasonable doctor. The one you were going to wasn't reasonable.
Sorry you had to go through that.
Posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 20:08:41
In reply to Re: Dumped by my PDoc via letter » heather66, posted by fallsfall on June 10, 2003, at 19:33:36
In the letter, the pdoc said he did not believe I was happy with his services so I should not return.
This doctor was not ONCE on time for an appointment. I tried being his first appt. His last appt. everything. I do not like waiting in a waiting room and i told him that. He was extremely inconsiderate to his patients (although I did not tell him that part - he had to know he was being inconsiderate). It is my opinion that he will only keep patients who are willing to wait for him - and that is unacceptable!
As far as choosing another doctor, I am going to pick a name because I refuse to discuss my problems with anybody. That is part of the reason i must seek help.
To fallsfall: THANK YOU for responding. This is one place I feel comfortable to vent. And I really need feedback from others. I appreciate your taking the time to reply.
Posted by noa on June 10, 2003, at 20:18:48
In reply to the reason why, posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 20:08:41
YOu could call your insurance and ask if there is a procedure to report this to them.
I think ethically, he should have given you referrals/resources to turn to. Otherwise, it seems like it is irresponsible.
Posted by Sabina on June 10, 2003, at 20:51:44
In reply to Re: the reason why, posted by noa on June 10, 2003, at 20:18:48
I totally agree. I feel it was totally irresponsible, bordering on unethical, for the guy to abandon you like that. I also have trouble sitting in waiting rooms, but my therapist is always punctual and I appreciate her mutual respect in that matter. Perhaps you could get in with a therapist that works alongside a group of perscribing MD's. In my (very limited) experience and meager opinion, psychiatrists are good for writing their names on little pieces of paper while therapists are the ones who are really there for you in the trenches.
Posted by Dinah on June 10, 2003, at 21:07:19
In reply to Re: the reason why, posted by noa on June 10, 2003, at 20:18:48
I know that therapists are generally expected to give you reasonable notice and attempt to provide you with referrals under their rules of ethics. I wonder if medical doctors have the same obligation?
Posted by Giget on June 11, 2003, at 10:14:57
In reply to Re: the reason why, posted by Dinah on June 10, 2003, at 21:07:19
When I have switched theripist or psy docs, the insurance always asks me why. If there was a problem they do have a complaint file for any doc in there plans.
If you really don't feel like disuccing your problem in person, just get a phone book and start calling. This way you can explain the situation, see if a doctor is in your plan and when you can get in.... without telling them your name. I just read the places by the people on the phones and if the doctor talked to me or even seemed to care.
Just hang in there, once you find the right doc for you, it is like night and day. But you have to go through these type of docs to find the good ones.
> I know that therapists are generally expected to give you reasonable notice and attempt to provide you with referrals under their rules of ethics. I wonder if medical doctors have the same obligation?
Posted by Snoozy on June 11, 2003, at 10:50:32
In reply to Dumped by my PDoc via letter, posted by heather66 on June 10, 2003, at 19:08:27
Hi Heather -
The same thing happened to me (twice actually!) I was at the lowest point ever in my life, very actively suicidal, had to leave my job, no friends. I was desperately, desperately in need of psychiatric help. When I first started seeing this psychiatrist, I was depressed but things were holding together. So it's not like she just got some hysterical suicidal person in her office out of the blue one day (not that that should matter really).
And this #$*&! doctor did it in a registered letter. I had no car (which she knew) and I was very physically ill (knew that too). So I got one of those little slips in my mailbox one day, and had to drag myself to the post office to pick up a registered letter.
My family really came to my rescue, and my internist took over with the medications (I was on a benzo, so that would have been lovely to stop cold turkey!)
Today I have a pdoc that I'm comfortable with, but more importantly I've found a therapist I can really work with and open up to (after the one I'd been seeing for years dumped me via letter - right to my mailbox though).
I just wanted to let you know that there are others who have gone through this and understand your feelings.
Snoozy
p.s. I hope my "language" up there wasn't offensive!
Posted by heather66 on June 11, 2003, at 16:12:17
In reply to Re: Dumped by my PDoc via letter - Me Too » heather66, posted by Snoozy on June 11, 2003, at 10:50:32
I called a doctor out of the book today and got an administator on the phone who seemed helpful so I gave her my phone number. She is supposed to have a therapist call me to schedule an appointment.
Snoozy - THANKs for writing - I am sorry it happened to you too, but it makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one.
I am still angry at the pdoc for mailing me the letter.
Posted by stjames on June 11, 2003, at 21:30:33
In reply to Re: the reason why, posted by Sabina on June 10, 2003, at 20:51:44
If you were a heart patient, with an ongoing condition requiring medication the doc would
ethically be required to refer you in this stiuation. This is really no different. Report this.
Posted by judy1 on June 11, 2003, at 22:24:37
In reply to Re: the reason why, posted by stjames on June 11, 2003, at 21:30:33
In California, a treating psychiatrist has to give 30 days notice for refusal of treatment. Anything less in unethical and should be reported to your local medical board. I'm truly sorry for what you went through and hope you find someone who is willing to help. take care, judy
Posted by heather66 on June 12, 2003, at 15:31:04
In reply to Re: the reason why, posted by judy1 on June 11, 2003, at 22:24:37
thanks for your advice. I can' t really decide right now who to call to report him. I guess I can call the insurance company. And I will look up the local medical board...
This is the end of the thread.
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