My Nephew's Psychiatrist Is An Asshole (at the least)

[Bertha Venation]

My eldest nephew, Chris, had an appointment with his psychiatrist a couple of weeks ago, and the shrink was a no-show. !!! The people in his office didn't know where he was.

Last week, Chris had a voicemail from the doc: "Sorry I missed our appointment but I had a last-minute chance to go hunting."

What the fuck?!

Chris called me last night to tell me about it. He's 24 and gets on very well in the world for a young man with Asperger's and low self-esteem. But this was a tremendous blow to him. He and I talked about ways he could get back on top, and how to talk to the shrink. But Chris is like me: the thought of confronting someone can be paralyzing. We had a good talk and I could tell he was grateful. I told him, "you know, you can call me about this again," and he said "really? Thanks. Thanks."

I would like very much to go Skittles on the sorry sonofabitchin' excuse for a physician. Hurt MY nephew, you bastard?! PAY!

If only that would do any good.

Any ideas - on anything about this?

[Gormy Cuss]

1. "Sorry, your problems mean less to me than my recreation."

Why would he share that fact with his patients? "Sorry, your problems mean less to me than my recreation."

Yep, doc sounds like an ass. At least Chris has his auntie to listen to him.

[Bertha Venation]

7. It was so wrong on so many levels

not the least of which is "you mean less to me than dead wild animals."

[Tobin S.]

2. If he can get a different doctor I'd go for it and tell the new doctor what happened

I'm with the first poster.

[Orsino]

3. And one can get a new doctor without confronting the old.

Just get another doctor to take one on, then have records transferred.

[Bertha Venation]

8. Hmm.

For some reason I have thought that his confronting the old doc would be imperative. But I think I need to go back to the boy - sorry, young man - and tell him "I told you what I would do, and that won't necessarily work for you."

The reason I thought he had to go back to his old doc was to get his meds, THEN get a new doc. I fear a new doc wouldn't give him his meds right off the bat. I dunno...

But I'm back on the phone with him tonight.

[Bertha Venation]

6. I'm going to work with him on finding a new doctor.

He's young and learning his way around. He could use a hand here.

:hi: :hug:

[datasuspect]

4. i guess life happens for docs too

[Bertha Venation]

5. Surely you didn't mean to post flame bait.

:)

Yes, life happens. But for a doctor not to have called to say "I'm sorry; we'll have to reschedule" is unconscionable.

[datasuspect]

10. lots of doctors have god complexes

[Taverner]

9. Get a new doc

The last thing a patient needs is an asshole doc

[supernova]

11. Another vote for a new doc

That was extremely unprofessional.

Sidebar: Years ago, I was in group therapy for social anxiety. We met every other Thursday evening, like clockwork. You could set your watch by it. One time my therapist didn't show. We were all outside his office waiting.. waiting.. I eventually left after about 20 minutes. The next time, we discussed it. He was also in the Duke Choir and had been at a practice that had run long. (IIRC, this was heading toward spring and they were getting ready for Easter ) I said well, I understand about hobbies. I just wish you had rescheduled. It's not a big deal. But it was traumatic for some other in the group who depended solely on the group for support.

I really hope your nephew can find someone he can work with. :hug:

[Deep13]

12. Yup. Asshole. At the very least. nt

[mnhtnbb]

13. As the wife of a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst (who also hunts) I have to vote

find a new shrink.

It's one thing to cancel appointments at the last minute--because emergencies do happen--it's something else entirely to not show up because you didn't make the effort to cancel them and then add insult to injury with a cavalier explanation that your personal recreation was more important to you than your professional obligation to your patients.

Suggest to your nephew that he find a new shrink and that he make discussing this episode part
of his interview with the new shrink to let the shrink know what his expectations are about
keeping appointments because there is a two way street in that regard.

[BlueIris]

14. PLEEEEAAAAASSSSE do what you can to get him a new therapist. I love shrinks, I really do,

wouldn't trust any of my problems to a non-psychiatrist, truly, but there is NOTHING worse than a bad one, nothing. I realize insurance company restrictions may be a mitigating factor here, but this guy shouldn't even be in the business anymore, let alone working with Asperger's sufferers.

[Moondog]

15. Fire the shrink. Hire a new one. n/t

[KamaAina]

16. Is that an ethics violation or something?

And I had no idea you were a family member (in the autism/Asperger's community). No wonder we get on so well. :loveya:

edit: spelling

[Bertha Venation]

18. I'd thought about that, M., seeing your earlier posts.

:loveya:

[susanr516]

17. I vote new psychiatrist, also

Especially since your nephew is dealing with Asperger's. The intricacies of "normal" social interactions are likely difficult for him, so please explain to him that his shrink was the one behaving boorishly.

Does your nephew also see a psychologist? If so, I would certainly let him/her know about this.

[tigereye]

19. that's unusual - usually the psychiatrists I have worked with in my career

are hyper-responsible about apptmts - they don't simply not show up. Seems kind of irresponsible at worse and unethical at best.

[NNadir]

20. I hate to say this, but this one almost screams for a malpractice claim.

I've had opportunities for these and not taken them because I regard doctors as human and prone to mistakes, but this bastard is deliberate.

[Odin2005]

21. Get a new psych ASAP!

What a total ass!