doctor's refusal

[lazure]

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Got a question for you - I went for my annual physical yesterday at the university student clinic which was my first visit at the said clinic. The female doctor was very nice at the beginning of the visit but half way through the physical she informed that she will not be doing the pap smear as it's her policy not to perform these on new patients - I was told that she needs to get to know me first and consequently wants me to make another apppointment. I asked repeatedly for her to do it as I have waited for two months for this appointment. She continued to refuse and then bid me goodbye without addressing my initial request for a prescription for my menstrual cramps. To be honest I was stunned - is this standard? I made an appointment for the pap smear with my previous family physician who is two hours commute away because he listens to my wishes.... Is her behaviour reason for a complaint or is this some policy I've never come across before?

 

[jbish]

I'm also in Canada and my first visit to my student health center was for my pap--I had no problem getting it on my first visit..although I specifically made the appointment for a pap smear and not a general physical so maybe this is why? It was with a GP not an Ob/gyn. Sounds weird to refuse such a simple, routine procedure...but I guess people can really do whatever they want...it's their prerogative..and your choice is whether to go to them or not..which you obviously already made.

 

[neilc]

sounds to me like bad doctor/patient communication. there is really no way for anyone but the doc to answer your questions...it is possible that she was too busy, as it takes a bit longer. if a doc is behind schedule, and you weren't on the schedule for a pap, i can see why she would not be able to do it that day

but, you won't get answers here, only speculation. it could be bad communication, miscommunication, a bad day, or the doctor could have just been bad. impossible to say.

best bet is to find someone you have a better rapport with. it is essential for the doc and patient to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with one another, to maximize the relationship and the level of care. so, if that communication is not there, find somewhere that it is. it does not neccesarily mean that the doc is bad, just may not be your style.

best of luck!

 

[lazure]

The thing was that I explicitly asked for a pap when I scheduled the appointment (the clinic requires to say that when you schedule a physical). The doctor told me that I was scheduled for it but she still wouldn't do it because of 'her policy' not to do them on a first visit. I was very surprised that a doctor can refuse a routine procedure for her personal reasons. I'm wondering if I came in with a gynecological concern whether she would still refuse to examine me..... anyways, I won't be seeing her again as she doesn't respect her clients' wishes....

 

[ckent]

Your story is a classic example of socialistic medicine. I doubt if the doctor even cares that she incovenienced you or did not provide you with the care that you were seeking, since she will still end up getting paid the same as I'm sure that she has plenty of other patients who are still on her waiting list.

 

[dry dre]

Originally posted by ckent
Your story is a classic example of socialistic medicine. I doubt if the doctor even cares that she incovenienced you or did not provide you with the care that you were seeking, since she will still end up getting paid the same as I'm sure that she has plenty of other patients who are still on her waiting list.

I had the same experience in the here in the US with an ENT....well, at least it was similar in that it involved an orifice with something inside that needed 30 seconds of attention. 2 weeks for the first appointment (via the doc-expedite mechanism)...only to be told "you need a tube.....it's a quick 2 minute procedure....come back next week and we'll do it." The tube was placed a week later during a 2 minute visit. We could have done it on the first visit.

This isn't "socialistic" medicine, it's bad medicine. This kind of crap goes on in the US everyday. In the US HMOs, the military, and the VA all run analagous to the Canadian system.

In the US two visits = more money. In Canada, it's less money (twice the time for the same money, right?!).

 

[lazure]

The doctor I described in my earlier post is now refusing to fax the results of my blood work to the family physician I went back to. All the results say is that I have low iron but my current doctor needs to know how low so that he can prescribe supplements. I could of course repeat the blood work again and charge our national health care system a second time for the same piece of information. I am now seriously considering filing a formal complaint with the college of physicians in my province.