9 Signs You Should Fire Your Doctor

Reader Comments
Back to article

How about a Dr that leaves before your appointment, you call the next day because your blood pressure is down to 70 over 40 and she does not even return your call? Hmmmmmm. Think I can find another office to faint in from my bp problem.

nobodycares of KY 7:18PM June 27, 2012

I fire any doctor who doesn't believe what I tell him/her. Just because a doctor doesn't know what caused the problem doesn't mean that the patient is lying about it. Once a doctor decides that YOU are causing a symptom (to get attention, perhaps?), they get tunnel vision and don't consider symptoms or causes that don't fit their preconceived idea. Recently a specialist didn't even chart a visible symptom that contradicted his theory.

Amy of CA 12:17AM June 14, 2012

I agree and I am in the process of "firing" my primary care physician of 5 years. I had low thyroid function. Every year I asked my physcian to do one extra test because I could feel nodules on my thyroid. I asked him to refer me to an Endcrinologist which he refused to do. He was very cavalier in his attitude. He said I did not need extra tests and to take the generic for Synthroid and my levels fell into the normal range so I did not need anything else. Last fall I gained 30# out of the blue and had other symptoms that lead me to believe there was more going on. On my own and at great frustration, I was finally able to get to an Edocrinologist on my own. The outcome was that I had thyroid cancer of the the thyroid and surrounding lymph nodes with 3 different types of cancer in them. In May I had my thyroid out totally and will be on hormone replacement therapy of course the rest of my life. I don't even know what to say to my PPO but first I will replace him once I get released from the surgeon who preformed my thyroid operation.

V Hiiva of FL 8:21AM May 28, 2012

When your doctor has misdiagnosed so you have lost trust, a wise doctor will call you and personally apologize. It may restore your trust.

Myrna Camp of MN 3:38PM May 26, 2012

Thank you for providing this information. I had to learn the hard way. My former orthopedic physician changed from one medical group to another. The initial reason for seeing him was for severe pain on the left hip and leg. After three failed repeated spinal surgeries performed by this person and advising of the continued pain to the left side. Finally decided to check my left hip. Turns out it was my hip causing all the pain. I had the total hip replacement surgery performed from another surgeon. Pain gone from the left hip and leg. Two years after that painful incident, I start to have pain in the lower back area. Out of the blue, the so called physician that performed my spinal surgeries calls, new medical staff, etc. Through MRI and xrays find out the hardware/screws that he placed during the spinal fusion are coming out and causing me pain. I finally had enough of this so called orthopedic physicians rush rush and repeated surgeries. After repeated failed surgeries to the spine, you have to think??? When I advised them that I was going to find a new orthopedic professional, they get really upset with me. Did thorough research on the internet and phone calls, found a new orthopedic professional. The new orthopedic physician takes the time to review all my options and orders new test on me. Hope all will be better soon. This has been a total painful nightmare for me! DO the research and don't suffer like I have!!!!!

ken of TX 10:36PM March 20, 2012

A physician friend said where somebody went to medical school isn't a big deal because they all have to follow the same curriculum. The best measure of a prospective physician is where he or she did residency. Did they do residency at a big hospital with lots of sick patients (a good thing) or did they do a residency at a smaller hospital or university. Additionally, you want someone who has been in practice a while because that will give them even more experience.
Some people are of the mind that you'd want someone recently out of residency because that way they'd know the latest procedures - not true. All physicians are required to maintain proficiency through Continuing Medical Education (CME) and nothing trumps experience.
Finally, you want the physician to be board certified in their area of practice, such as family medicine or surgery or orthopedics, etc. http://www.abms.org is an excellent resource. You will be required to create a free account before you can do lookups. Stay away from anyone who is not board certified in their area of expertise, period.

Healthcare Consumer of OK 4:29PM February 27, 2012

It's scary when doctors surprise patients by telling them that they will be going into surgery on a certain date, when it wasn't even scheduled. This happened to me and I didn't hesitate one minute to leave this doctor. This was the 2nd time this doctor screwed up.
Then there was a doctor that didn't know the difference between an ovary and a tumor. I left him and got some other opinions.
I finally quit going to the 2 knuckleheads that must have gotten their deplomas out of cracker jack boxes. This one knucklehead couldn't figure out why I was hurting so bad behind the middle of my rib cage and the other knucklehead just threw the xrays up in the air where they landed all over the floor saying they won't help. Very childest behavior. A person can't even get in as a patient with the really good doctors they are so rare around here.

Alice Carey of IN 7:39AM February 05, 2012

I agree with all I read. Article very well written!!

Barbara Milliken of TN 5:26PM February 03, 2012

no

cristhian of CA 1:49PM January 31, 2012

Amazing how those complaining of the author using "he" are showing their inability to read. The third sentence of the article clearly states "(For simplicity, the references below are to male doctors, but men don't have a monopoly on unacceptable behavior.)" It is even in parenthesis to stand out clearly! Maybe the inability to read corresponds to their inability to understand their doctor? Sadly, we expect so much of others (our doctors for example) yet are unwilling to give the understanding to them that we want from them. Kindness and thoughtfulness goes both ways. If appointments weren't made for every hiccup and hangnail, perhaps our doctors would be able to spend the time they would like to with us when we have a significant issue. Something to consider. Believe it or not, there are only 60 minutes in a doctor's hour also.

C of MO 9:34AM November 29, 2011