Suspicious Doctor?

NannaBaby

Hi Ladies! (and gentlemen)

I wonder if you would find this suspicious...

My ex family doctor has been calling me at home from his office, his cell and his home phone! 

1- He first gave me "shit" for switching family doctors because he gets a monetary penalty. 

2- The second time was to tell me the reason why he won't give me a copy of my health records, is because it's office policy.  That patients won't be able to read and understand them and the staff get annoyed by patients calling to get them to explain what is written. (I have asked 3 times for my chart, and they keep making excuses or giving an incomplete chart)

3- The third time he called from his house! He said I upset him because I said it's suspicious that I have asked 4 times now for my chart, and I'm still being told excuses!  By law, I have access to my chart. I told him it's wierd that he is calling me from his house.

A little FYI - this doctor has only ever called me once when he had my biospy results.  He never called me for anything! And since I've been asking for my chart, he has called me 5 or 6 times! Plus his reception staff has called me a couple times.

Do you think I have good reason to be suspicious?

NannaBaby

I hope I make sense!? Chemo brain... can't think right...not sure when I'm ever thinking right for that matter!

Leah_S

NannaBaby, I wouldn't be suspicious. There's not enough questions to even call it suspicious! I figure it's a sure thing that he wants you back in his practice.

The next time you get a call, tell him/staff that you're consulting your lawyer to find out why he isn't complying with the law and giving you your chart. His office policy is not legal. Also tell him that you don't want him harassing you any more.

I think Dr. Jerk will back off if you do that.

Best of luck.

Leah

scuttlers

Document, time/date/what he said. If he calls again, tell him to stop and that you are recording the calls (he will stop, unless he is stupid or a psychopath, either way glad he is you ex doc). It may be possible that he is on contract with the facility and is losing patients and has been given a warning - not your problem! Call the office and tell them that your entire chart will be picked up in person on a specific date and will be ready for you or your designated "picker upper person". And agree with Leah - a hint of a lawyer should do the trick. Don't leave us in limbo, let us know.

karen1956

I know in the states, docs/hospitals etc can charge to copy a patient's chart..they don't have to give it for free.....If you have a new doc, will they send the records to that person?  not that your shouldn't have your records, but that might be one way to get them..Good luck...

NannaBaby

I have a copy of my request and receipt of payment for my chart. He gave me an incomplete chart. It only had 3 visits in there! I've seen him at least a dozen times since I found my lump. And he has been my family doctor for 10 years! He should have record of more than 3 visits.

Tatina123

Go with your gut instincts. If you want to pursue this, I would send a registered letter with a receipt confirmation for you. In the letter, you can state that you have received an incomplete medical file when you requested and paid for a complete one and the stress that he and his staff has caused is affecting your health (you can mention the phone calls and you getting the run around). In the letter, you can give them a specific date you want to receive all your medical records, and if they don't comply, you'll contact the Medical Board and file a complaint (or whichever organization oversees this profession). If you have an attorney, at the bottom of the letter, you may want to cc: their name so your physician knows that a copy of the letter is with your attorney.



Take care,

T

Chickadee

He sounds like someone who should be investigated for seriously unprofessional behavior. Trust your gut. Go over his head........to somewhere that won't be part of any good old boys network.



Down here in Tx, 2 nurses finally reported a really bad Dr. To the medical society. Smalltown Texas They had documented everything. Long story short, the Dr called in his good old boy sheriff and prosecutor friends to arrest the nurses for besmirching his pitiful reputation. It took time for the truth to come out and last I read the Doc and his buddies are now all out of work and facing lots of legal trouble. I hope both nurses hang the jerks out to dry Some of these guys have god complexes and need serious oversight.

pickle

Nanna, Do you have a new doctor. If so then you can sign a release withbthe new doc requesting that yout complete file be sent to the new doc. If he doesn't comply then you definitely would have grounds for suspicion. Try that route and then you can file a complaint with the medical board. I really find it strange. I live in Alberta and my GP and onc always give me copies of my reports when I request them.

debbie6122

Wow, this sounds so unprofessional especially since he is your EX Doctor he shouldnt be contacting you at all. I have never had to pay for any files including from the hospital. Could be he is charging insurance more than what services he was giving you- There is a big scam with insurance and kickbacks.

In the states we have a Medical board that we can complain too, dont know if you have somthing like that but i would check into it.

Only 3 charts from 10 years i say he is hiding somthing.

Mantra

In Ontario you can complain to the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons. This Dr. sounds extremely unprofessional. However, if Ottawa is like the rest of the province, finding a family doctor is extremely difficult, if not impossible. Therefore, you might want to tread lightly for fear that this doctor blacklists you so no other GP will take you on as a patient. I know all of my doctors have the same note pinned on their walls . . . abuse of our staff will result in us dismissing you as a patient. I don't know if you've been through the "interview process" to get a new family doctor but they certainly hold all the cards.

That said I would check with the college and find out what your patient rights are. Are you entitled to all medical records including doctor's personal notes, or just to test results? What's the maximum fee they can charge you? What is the recourse if you do not get all medical records you are legally entitled to? Must they legally turn over all records, including doctor's personal notes to your new family physician?

My sister is at Sunnybrook and they have a wonderful online system called My Chart. She can log in and get access to absolutely every single thing in her file including results, doctors personal notes etc etc. Princess Margaret on the otherhand apparently charges $30 for each document they give you. I know that my family physician gives me a copy of all my test results (I insist on this and discussed it with her before becoming her patient), but I've never asked for, nor received, any personal notes. However, when I transferred my file from my old family doctor, I paid a fee to him and all records were in a sealed envelope and I was told not to open the envelope. Of course I did . .. who wouldn't

debbie6122

that's strange they told you not to open the envelope- I would have too!

Leah_S

Don't you know that if you didn't go to medical school you're too stupid to understand what's written there? You're also likely to get hysterical if you're told everything.

I once had a small growth removed from my face. When I went for the follow-up and to get the results of the biopsy the doc sent me to a certain clerk to get the report "but don't read it". Yeah, right. It said "Basal cell carcinoma. Margins are clear." I knew that, while it was an early stage cancer, it was nothing to worry about but all the doc said to me was, "It was fine. It was nothing". I asked if I needed any follow-up and was told no. He didn't even say, "Lady, you should wear sunscreen", nor did he tell me to have any other growths checked. But this, of course, was preferable to telling me what it was and what precautions to take because obviously I wouldn't understand and I'd only get hysterical.

Leah

Gingerbrew

Another way to track your previous office visits is by your prescription records at your pharmacy. Just a thought.

I too think this guy is in some sort of trouble. 

Ginger

NannaBaby

Well ladies... thanks for your help!  After last nights creepy call from his house, I got him to get the chart ready for me this morning.  My hubby picked if up for me... I had an ab ultrasound to check for mets today too. The chart is only 12ish pages! for ten years! His clinical notes are VERY BROAD!

There is no doubt he was negligent!!! He had noted that he can't appreciate a palpable lump!! I mean, at that point it was over 3cm!!

What I probably can't prove, is that the delay of his treatment/diagnosis casuing significant damages.  Such as 5 month s really making a difference in my prognosis.

I hope I never hear from him again! I would FREAK if he ever called me again!

Thanks again ladies

bedo

I don't know about Canada, but here it is a patient's right to have their records. You pay for copying per page only.  He sounds like a nut case.  How rude to call your actions a "medical penalty"  How insulting to say that "most patients don't understand them"  Is there a Medical Board in Canada?  Can you find them on the web tomorrow and explain your case?  I'm sure that they will find in your favor.  I have had some nutcase call me 7 times to make an appt AFTER I told him I was being seen a the breast cancer center. I changed doctors after I began to think he was a doddering fool.   I think he is covering his a&^( and trying to appear concerned in case he did something wrong.  ( He didn't, other than harass me) I wish there were a way you could show up with an attorney or patient advocate and demand youf records and stake out his office (nicely) until they are given to you.  You might also want to read the originals while they are making copies. Geeze, what a nut.

LittleMelons

Nanna - I think your family may be harrassing you because he is afraid that you will complain to the CPSO, College of Physicians of Ontario, and he is trying to convince you that he is correct in not giving you your records.  As others have been saying, you have a right to those charts.  If you offer to pay for them, I don't see how he can refuse.

 I would call the CPSO and tell them what is happening and not mention the doctor's name the first time.  Then call your family doctor's office and tell them you have consulted with someone at the CPSO.  That's should get action.  If not, lodge a complaint with the CPSO.  They have people who investigate complaints.

Doctors hate responding to any kind of complaint because it is so time-consuming providing the documentation to the regulating body. 

I was treated at Sunnybrook and their MyCharts system is wonderful.  You can see all your treatment information and test results online and even letters to your other docs.  Wish all the hospitals and docs had a system like that.