Posted by Diane J. on August 28, 2001, at 0:00:21
A couple of years ago there was an article in the newspaper which reported that my psychiatrist had done a bunch of terrible things and was close to losing his license. I asked him about it and he told me a very long, detailed, and graphic story professing his innocence. It made me extremely uncomfortable because I certainly was not used to him telling me so much personal information. (For example, he went to two doctor to get a physical examination because the complainant had claimed my p-doc had certain identifying marks on his body, ...) Anyway, I was trusting and naive and I kept seeing him. He ended up receiving a 5-year probation.
His name came up again when I was recently at the Medical Board to be interviewed regarding my complaint against my ex-therapist for breach of confidentiality. I had mentioned him in the text of my complaint and the investigator inquired if my ex-therapist and my p-doc were in the same office. I said yes, they share a suite with several other doctors.
The investigator proceeded to tell me that my p-doc was a PIG and he had done all the things he had been accused of (like having sex with a woman in his office and paying for her breast enlargement and for prescribing Demerol to a male patient in exchange for money). I was quite shocked, to say the least. I decided to find another p-doc for my child and I thought I would try to get my GP to prescribe my Effexor.
Problem is, I needed more Effexor before I would see my GP, so I called and made an appointment with my p-doc just so my prescription would be refilled. I planned to cancel the appointment later. Well, I felt sort of bad for being dishonest so I left a message on my p-doc's machine in which I told him that my daughter and I would not be coming back because I had found out that he hadn't been telling me the truth. I also told him I was really sorry, because I had liked him.
About an hour later I guess he got the message and he called me back, unfortunately. He told me a long ranting story about how the investigator had a vendetta against him and that he hadn't done any of the things of which he was accused. (Sigh.) Then he got really snotty and told me that I had better cancel any appointments I had on the books if I wasn't coming back.
So now here I am and I feel terrible! I think it is because he was such a jerk on the telephone that I could see he is capable of being one. Also I had liked him and stood by him in the past. I have a hard time believing that people can be bad intentionally, and it is difficult to fully realize that he did all the things he was accused of. I feel bad and stupid and worried all at the same time. PLEASE, does anyone have some insight regarding this situation? Your comments would be sincerely appreciated.
Diane J.
poster:Diane J.
thread:10382
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20010825/msgs/10382.html