What to do when a doctor is really rude?

My best friend has ulcerative colitis, and goes for IV infusions once every eight weeks. I went with her on Friday, since her mother in law couldn't take her.

The infusions take a between three and four hours, and she gets a dose of steroids thirty minutes before they begin. On Monday her doctor had called, and she asked him what dosage she would be given this time, since they have been changing the dosage due to her having adverse affects. He told her she would have to ask the doctor who would be giving her the infusions, dr. so and so. Two days later a nurse called, asking her a question about her infusions, and my friend asked again. The nurse said she was unsure and would ask the doctor's nurse. Nobody called her back, so she decided to wait and ask the doctor.

When we came in for the infusion, the doctor looked extremely agitated, and without being provoked, told my friend that she needed to stop harassing the office. "Monique has other patients. You aren't the only one."

We were both shocked, and my friend started to tell her that she hadn't, and the doctor snapped, "Are you going to let me finish?". She had raised her voice, but my friend politely said yes, and the doctor told her that it was not her responsibility to tell her "every little thing". She said, "I don't have to sit here and be questioned by YOU." She then continued to rant for about two minutes about explaining things to her, and said, "I didn't go to medical school to be harassed by people like YOU!". By the time she finished, she was screaming and her face was red. Then she told my friend that her "behavior" at her last infusion had caused another patient (who she called by name) who was in the room during the infustion (they are conducted in a large room with lots of recliners, and can seat several patients at a time) to have a panic attack when she got home. My friend had a reaction, and couldn't breathe. I hardly see how that's considered "behavior".

On one hand, I've experienced it myself that a lot of patients can be a bit pushy and want too much information and let's face it, resident and interns get TOO much work whereas the adscripts are rarely even working. Believe me, nobody is fresh like a tomato after working for 24 hours straight with no sleep and little food while standing up almost nonstop and then some overprotective parent buds in and annoys the person too much.

On the other hand, asking about the dosage change to several employees because the regular doctor isn't around isn't too pushy (though maybe an overly tired doctor who hears that all of the residents and interns got the same question might think that this person is too involved).

However, this isn't an excuse for a doctor to get all furious and red when you weren't screaming at her yourself and to blabber out the names and diseases of other patients. It's against the law even.

Good idea to switch doctors. You should complain to administration. Unless this is a freelance doctor who just sees patients as appointments, they have to respond to topcat doctors with a higher status than them and a lot of these people take patient confidenciality seriously. They could end up suspending her or even firing her.

Time to find another Doctor. My daughter went to three "lady" docs and finally ended up with a male doctor.....no more problems. All three women docs misdiagnosed and had no bedside manner whatsoever. They just wanted the office exam to be over so they could go home to their families. I'm sure there are wonderful female physicians out there, but you can die before you find the right one.

Report them. There is absolutely no excuse what so ever for that type of behavior from anyone in the medical field. So maybe the doctor was having a bad day, sounds like maybe he/she is not a very good doctor. Your friend definately does not have to take that type of abuse from anyone. I have worked in the medical field for 20 years. If I ever heard anyone talk to a patient that way I would go nuts. She should talk to the office manager, practice manager whoever is in charge. She could also get her treatment somewhere else. I know sometimes that can be a pain but she should not be in a place that is so careless with a persons confidential information. There are laws that protect people from that kind of thing.

if i were your friend, i would look for another doctor for treatment.

that was not professional of the doctor to behave that way towards a patient. and even if the doctor only started talking about another patient by first name, that is violating confidentiality; who knows what the doctor might be saying about you to other patients?!

some insurance companies have websites where you can "rate this doctor." i would make a comment on the doctor's rating. and upon changing doctors, i would file a complaint with hospital administration towards that unprofessional doctor. i would maybe even be so bold as to mention "i will be filing a complaint with administration..." while there are other patients waiting in the lounge (maybe other people that have been treated poorly may want to file complaints too when they see one person is complaining)

Isn't there a state board where complaints can be made? Possibly call the State Medical board and find out. Personally I would not have sat there and took it I would most definitely told that so called dr that she is being paid for her time, by the patient!!! Not only that but that she and her office staff would be reported for their behavior, lack of professional integrity, and violations of patient privacy. Then I would have walked out.

Good luck to you and your friend. I pray that she will find a compassionate dr who knows how to treat other people, and that remembers who pays their bills.