Los Gatos ER Physician in the News

Sour Lemon · Jun 19, 2018

Anyone have any thoughts on the ER doctor from Los Gatos who has been all over the news today? Apparently a college student came in complaining of an anxiety attack and according to the news, the patient was "taunted." The patient was asking for pain and anxiety meds. I definitely think this is an example of burnout. It seems like the physician didn't think a visit to the ER was warranted and she was upset because she had sicker people to take care of. I'm not condoning how she handled the situation, I just think we really need to address burnout.

I just watched it. The patient seemed very in control and manipulative. I do wonder, what are the doctors supposed to do in situations like these? Just serve up whatever the patient requests on a silver platter? Aside from grabbing the patient's arm, I don't see that the doctor was anything other than blunt.

JKL33 · Jun 19, 2018

Unfortunate. May be burnout, maybe not. There are posts here not infrequently that represent the same basic mistake in thinking, which is failure to separate self and other.

Lots of other people would've been able to appropriately dispo this in 5-10 minutes while remaining perfectly pleasant.

CityofAngelsRN · Jun 19, 2018

Yes, I agree. No matter what, you can't get that rude (even though you may want to lol). The patient or his father mentioned somewhere having been to other ER for the same thing (pain meds and anxiety) which leads me to believe he is seeking. If not, he would have followed up with his GP as told to in order to get the pain and anxiety under control. An ER was not the appropriate place to go, an urgent care would have been the best choice...except there he wouldn't get IV pain meds. Anyway, I know others will disagree with me but that's how I saw it.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2018

Since you started the thread, it would have been nice of you to provide a link to this story.

CityofAngelsRN · Jun 19, 2018

Since you started the thread, it would have been nice of you to provide a link to this story.

Where is my mind today? Sorry, here is a link í ¾í´¦*â™€ï¸

Los Gatos doctor suspended after caught on video taunting patient - KRON

Emergent, RN · Jun 19, 2018

I saw this video. The patient was a demanding, entitled manipulator and the doctor was a burnt out on the public, negative woman with no finesse or charm. A perfect example of a healthcare worker unable to remain emotionally detached in the face of the spoiled crybabies who frequent the ER.

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2018

I watched the video 2x and I have come to the same conclusion: the patient is being ridiculous . For a person who can't inhale, he can certainly talk really well. I know that when I have been to the point where I am unable to breathe easily (I have asthma) I can get maybe 2 words out before I am out of breath. No way was he unable to "inhale" if he can talk that well. The whole thing just has me shaking my head.

The doc maybe should have been a bit less direct but you can see (hear) the frustration she has at that point. Sadly, she'll be the bad guy to a lot of people.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2018

Unfortunate. May be burnout, maybe not. There are posts here not infrequently that represent the same basic mistake in thinking, which is failure to separate self and other.
Lots of other people would've been able to appropriately dispo this in 5-10 minutes while remaining perfectly pleasant.

The doctor had discharged him, but he refused to leave, stating he couldn't move. At least that was what I read elsewhere.

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jun 19, 2018

We only saw the part the patient's father posted on his facebook. Who knows what was said by either party prior to the video taping? This is why I dislike video taping at hospitals~ you usually only get one side of it. Also, why on earth did the father pretend this was RACISM?? I see no racism here. I watched the original video last week, where the father claimed his son was a victim of racism by the doctor.

MunoRN, RN · Jun 19, 2018

They were both being silly, but not unusually silly for either a patient or a doctor. The video didn't appear to show anything that isn't a pretty regular occurrence at any ER I've worked in.

Emergent, RN · Jun 19, 2018

I work in the ER. Believe me, this type of patient comes in all ethnicities and genders. It's not a racial thing at all.

In my ER, if a patient won't leave, first we call security, then the police if necessary. We do have a doctor who will carry on similar to this doctor. I find his behavior unbecoming. It's always bad to lower oneself and allow pathetic people to push ones buttons.