Have you ever "fired" a psychiatrist (or other doctor) ?

[ncrainbowgrrl]

If so, how did you do it?

I'm in the process of switching psychiatrists. (I hope.) The current resident that rotated onto the service last month and I met for the first time earlier this week. I had a crappy couple of days after she tweaked my meds... so I called her. And (I kid you not!), she... after getting defensive, asked me "What do you want me to do about it."

My jaw dropped. I think I muttered something along the lines of "use your medical training to help find the correct combo of meds for me."

She didn't laugh. She proceeded to ask me if I really thought that my comment was productive. I said that I thought that it was not only productive, but appropriate. I asked what she proposed doing. She said that she'd call me back early today. It's now 4pm EST.

So, DU- what would you do. The residents are SOOO inexpensive, and affordable, and until this particular one, they've all been good. If I go and use a real psychopharm, I'll be laying out buttloads of money. I don't really have said money to spend.

Thoughts?

[taterguy]

1. been there, done that

Don't feel like posting the details on a public website

[ThomCat]

2. Several times

I have told several doctors/physical therapists/etc at various times that I found their behavior lacking in professionalism and I did not feel that they would be able to represent your medical best interest.

I stated that they were too defensive that their first guesses must be correct, that anything less than miraculous progress was not an effort to personally slight them and that I did not find it appropriate that they took combative attitudes.

You need copies of all your medical records to take with you.

I'm furious just thinking about the ego some of these quacks have. :grr:

You have any good vibes I can send you while looking for a better doctor. They're out there, but you have to be willing to look, talk, and be clear what you need from them. You'll need to weed out the many doctors who are lazy bastards and want to make the most money from the least effort.

[taterguy]

3. to clarify

The point of my first post is that the Internet might not be the best place for this discussion. You could hear a lot of advice but no one here really knows you. I hope you have the resources to find what you need.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

4. Thanks for the clarification.

Just wanted to see if others had dealt with similar issues- not looking for specific advice- more like "yes, it's quite feasible- you rock 'cause you're not going to pay to take it from this person!"

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. i would not want to deal with a doc that got defensive

[purr]

6. My infectious disease doc has a real attitude problem..

Shes the only one near me, the rest are a good hour away or else I would've canned her a long time ago. I'm still battling C-difficle and it just wont go away.

[cassandra uprising]

7. If you're not getting what you need -find a new doctor.

You have to have trust and respect and if those things aren't there then find a new one. It sounds like you know what you need to do. :hug:

[LaurenG]

8. Get a new Doctor

Have the new doc send for your records or call and ask the old doc to get them ready (you have the right to a copy) and hand carry them to the new doctor. Can't you get a new resident?

[caty]

9. I "fired" my doctor

by simply not going back to her again.

[NMMNG]

10. I fired a PCP once

I had just signed onto the health plan at my job and had selected a physician from the list. I went to my first appointment with her and mentioned to her the severe, chronic headaches I'd had since my teens (which later were diagnosed as Migraines). She didn't examine me or ask any questions about the headaches, but simply stated, "Lose weight, that will help".

I immediately put in a request for a new doctor after leaving her office.


Try to come to an understanding with this resident, but if she simply won't play ball you may need to move on. A doctor who won't listen to you is no good, regardless of how affordable they are.

[no name no slogan]

11. Yup. I wasn't getting the treatment I needed

My pshychiatrist was totally disinterested and didn't do a damn thing for me when I was in serious trouble (just barely avoided the hospital, actually). I switched to another clinic and another doctor, and lodged a formal complaint with the former clinic and my HMO.

We are their customers-- we have every right to demand they do right by us.

[philosophie_en_rose]

12. I've fired a doctor. No guilt at all.

I'm paying through the nose to purchase the doctor's time. If I'm not satisfied, then there's no point in dragging it out. Clean break. Short answers.

[UncleSepp]

13. Get a different doctor, it is your health and your life

My father's had to "fire" a cardiologist who gave him less than six months to live and refused to do any life-extending treatment. That was ten years and one stent ago, and Dad's doing fantastic. My mother "fired" a doctor - neonatologist? doctor of newborns? - who told her it wasn't worth taking extraordinary measures to save her premature baby, who would never see, hear, or speak and would be profoundly retarded if it lived more than a few weeks. That was almost 34 years ago, and I'm doing fine now, no thanks to that doctor (and all thanks to Mom's courage).

You are the customer, and it is your health, your happiness, and your life that is important - not the doctor's ego. Do what you need to do. It's your doctor's job to manage your medications. If she's not doing it, find one who will.