I just had an awful experience with a mean doctor. What are my rights, etc?!


Question: I had the displeasure of speaking to a doctor that was completely non-cooperative, not understanding in the least, demanding, strict, and got so annoying that at one point I just stood up and I said, "I'm sorry I don't like you, I'm leaving," and told the receptionist up front that this doctor was horrible and that's that, and that I wanted my refund.

They seemed to handle my outburst professionally, but I just disregarded their fakeness, and expressed my honest to god, contempt for that woman. I didn't' threaten her, but I definitely was dramatic and let it be known that I wasn't having any of it.

Now when I wanted to reschedule, with another doctor, the receptionist said they''ll call me, after they speak to the main doctor.

Did I violate a right or something, do I have the right to refuse treatment?

She treated me harsh, and even more so after she found out I was gay, and not working. I'm 26. She just treated me BAD, so I got up and left.

Any suggestions? I'm upset.


Answers: I had the displeasure of speaking to a doctor that was completely non-cooperative, not understanding in the least, demanding, strict, and got so annoying that at one point I just stood up and I said, "I'm sorry I don't like you, I'm leaving," and told the receptionist up front that this doctor was horrible and that's that, and that I wanted my refund.

They seemed to handle my outburst professionally, but I just disregarded their fakeness, and expressed my honest to god, contempt for that woman. I didn't' threaten her, but I definitely was dramatic and let it be known that I wasn't having any of it.

Now when I wanted to reschedule, with another doctor, the receptionist said they''ll call me, after they speak to the main doctor.

Did I violate a right or something, do I have the right to refuse treatment?

She treated me harsh, and even more so after she found out I was gay, and not working. I'm 26. She just treated me BAD, so I got up and left.

Any suggestions? I'm upset.

Good for you for leaving! You did the right thing. You are contributing to that doctor's paycheck when you see her. Even if you have insurance and it doesn't all come out of your pocket the insurance only pays her when you go so you deserve to be treated with respect and have your concerns addressed fully. Definately, look for a different doctor and keep looking until you find one. If you have insurance I would report her to your insurance company. If the insurance company gets too many complaints about her they can stop using her and/or the entire practice, thus the practice will take a huge income cut. You could also, contact the office manager for that practice and issue a complaint against her. Then ask the office manager for contact info for the owner of the practice and complain there also.

You definately have the right to refuse treatment. BUT if a doctor feels you are not following his/her treatment plan exactly they can also choose not to treat you. When a patient does not follow a treatment plan and their condition worsens it sets a doctor or practice up to be sued for malpractice when it is the patient's fault for not following treatment in the first place. If this doctor feels you were being obstinent, or even just wants to look better to her boss after you stormed out, she'll say you are the one with the problem and can recommend, for the legal protection of the practice, that you not be seen there.

I have been in your situation as a patient and now I work in medical billing and coding. The medical field is an extremely conservative field. I am not allowed to have any facial piercing, more than one ear piercing, any tattoos that show or might show, and my hair has to be a "normal" color. It's not surprising that her poor behavior only got worse when your sexuality was addressed. Don't misunderstand me, it was VERY WRONG or her (or anyone for that matter) but conservative people aren't usually very accepting of that lifestyle. Most likely, when telling her side of the story to her boss or the other doctors at that practice she will bring up your sexuality to sort of justify her behavior. To them it will be justified because people refuse accept anything different from what they believe personally.

I suggest finding a new doctor and a new practice altogether. You need a doctor that accepts and does not judge homosexuality. Even if the doctor is personally against it, her/she needs NOT to allow personal feelings to interfere with professionalism. In summary, you did the right thing! Good Luck!

I agree with what you did but im not sure if theres any law saying you cant do what youve done. they probably said theyll call you back because the other doctor can refuse to treat you for no reason so the bad doctor probably wanted to talk to the other one to get him/her to not treat you. but i deff. agree with you

Is there another clinic you could go to? I sure wouldn't want to go to a clinic that hires doctors who treat people so rudely.
I don't know what your legal rights are but you could follow up by getting information and reporting this doctor to someone higher up. A lot of medical places have a board of directors.
I hope you follow up and things go your way.
I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. I had a similar experience but told the people off over the phone. ( in a professional manner of course ).
By the way...if she treated you worse after you mentioned you are gay and not working then that is discrimination. There has got to be a law against that.

You have every right to go to another doctor, but choose one in a different office. If your doctor was rude and not very attentive to your needs, then find a new one.

You let them know of your displeasure, but they have the right not put you back on their schedule, for any doctor in their practice.

Go spend your money at another office that is more caring towards their patients.

Sorry, but doctors can "divorce" a patient from their practice for whatever reason. If you didn't get along with the Dr., didn't pay your bill, or were rude to the staff they can refuse to see you again. Also, if the main doctor sides with the doctor you saw then that would be the end of it. I don't think you can do anythin but find another doctor that you can get along with. Good luck.

Don't forget, you are not ony a patient, but a customer. If you don't like the service, leave. Lot's of doctors have bad attitudes, mostly from not having enough time to do their jobs. For some it's just a total lack of empathy. You get really jaded treating people after a while. Anyway, get your money back, and go see someone else. Being a jerk is NOT against the law, sorry.

i work for a doctor, let me explain a thing or two,

1) you aren't entitled to a refund if you don't like the doctor, because she/he deserves to be compensated for their time.
but most doctors will give you your copay back .

2)the reason the receptionist said she had to talk to the doctor before you transfer to another one in the group is because sometimes these doctors cover for each other while on vacation or when they are away from the office and you might get stuck seeing the first doctor that you had a bad time with.

3) if you feel you were treated wrong contact your local medical society and file a complaint or contact the AMA (American medical association and file a complaint)

you can also contact your state's department of professional/medical licensure and lodge a complaint, this more than anything will get the attention of the bad doctor's superiors because they are notified when this happens. And if a doctor has more than ten bad complaints the state will suspend their license to practise in that state.

go to a totally different clinic. the dr's at that clinic opinions will probably be coloured by what the 'mean' dr says.





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