A Physician's disregard for families rights.

[DJ-Adia]

I have had an experience of a lifetime that has really put into perspective the frustrations that families encounter when a physician is too arrogant to enforce patients rights. My father is currently a patient in a local ICU & has required mechanical ventilation. Prior to today, I had highly respected the intensivist overseeing my dad's care. He seemed to really empathize with the families of patients he cared for. He kept us informed of dad's condition & explained things laymens terms so everyone understood. Yesterday evening My dad had a coloscopy and prior to the procedure, we notified the nursing staff that we would like to speak with the gastroenterologist doing the procedure to further discuss his findings & any reccomendations that he had to help resolve the issue @ hand. Needless to say, the message wasn't relayed & he never stopped to talk with us. When my mom requested to talk with him - the intensivist stormed into the family room and read us the "Riot Act".

First of all, we are not to request to talk with any other physician besides himself. He's in charge - he writes the orders, consults specialists as HE deems necessary, and doesn't need to be told how to do his job. He went on to further say, that families are always quick to make reccommendations regarding what they feel should be done when really all they do is make the physicians job that much harder.

Needless to say, based upon my assessment of my fathers clinical status seeing as though families always knows him best - I requested that his TSH be checked. The MD said, "whatever the result is, I will take it with a grain of salt anyway". The result was 250. He's now receiving IV levothyroxine.

So far, the hospital stay has been 52 days & my mom has not left the hospital one night. Since the encounter with the MD, my mom feels that she needs to be there 24/7 because she feels insecure that he may not make decisions in dad's best interest.

Given my Nursing experience, I was furious that a MD thought he could get away with treating a family in such an unprofessional manner - afterall, if he did it to us, he's obviously treated other families the same way. I contacted the medical director of the hospital but she didn't seem real concerned. Any Suggestions?

[TazziRN, RN]

Get another physician and fire him

[Kim O'Therapy, BSN, RN]

Get another physician and fire him

I agree.

[leslie :-D]

Get another physician and fire him

a big, fat DITTO.

and stat.

like, yesterday.

wishing the very best for your mom and dad.

leslie

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Yes, exercise your rights.

If a patient doesn't like a particular hospital, they can select another facility for their care. If a patient does not want to receive care from a certain nurse, many of these people feel free to request another nurse.

The same should go with physicians. If you don't like your doctor, find other one. This current intensivist is continuing to earn money off your father's case until you do otherwise. I wouldn't willingly give my hard-earned dollars and business to a crude doctor if there are more respectful physicians out there.

I hope your father has a good outcome.

[Batman24]

Get another physician and fire him

Yup. That's what I'd do and immediately at that.

I'll be praying for your father and the rest of your family.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

I'm sorry you're going through this. This physician has no right to treat you this way. I would A)Complain to the risk managment of the hospital B)Request another physician if this is not resolved to your family's satisfaction.

God Bless you and your family.

[Simplepleasures]

What would have happened to your dad if you would have been a meek compliant, "good" patient's family member ? I was so hypothyroid at the time I got diagnosed, I was in congestive heart failure and was lactating, which is the pituitary's way of forcing the thyroid to work. I had been going to an internist who chalked off all my symptoms to being fat, he claimed I had sleep apnea which, I did not have. A simple TSH, just a small vial of blood, but some docs think they are God. I finally changed doctors and was immediately diagnosed.

[rizzle]

I agree. It doesn't sound like your family presented any unreasonable demands; his behavior was inappropriate. Find a new doc and maybe even a new hospital if you are not satisfied with his care. I will pray for you and your family.

[RNBelle]

totally inappropriate. get a new doc and tell that other one to kiss it!

[Becca608]

How disrepectful. Find a new MD and report this guy.

[rn/writer, RN]

Please, please, please get a new doc. And equally important, please let the hospital administration know why you want a new doc and how the first one treated you. The powers that be will have no idea what took place unless you tell them. Some docs browbeat their patients for years because the top dogs don't hear about it. In this age of touting customer service and showing respect, the people that run the hospital need to know how you were treated and the risk that ensued because of it.

I hope your father and your entire family recovers from this incident.