First off, please let me know if there’s already a thread about something like this. I'm too frustrated and angry to bother searching anymore. Let's just get to it.
My stepfather's father has been in declining health for a year and a half, and things just took a turn for the worse. (Just so you understand how serious this is, a lady from the nursing home told us yesterday to prepare for the worst.) My stepfather called his primary care physician, Sandra Balog, who works at the community health center in a small town, USA (the patient is actually in a rural area, about 10-15 minutes away). He asked if she could perform a house call, and she rudely snapped that he shouldn't bother and should just find a new doctor if he isn't happy. He tried to explain the situation politely—he even offered to pick her up in his car—but she just stayed blunt and hung up on him.
The website for the local health clinic clearly states:
Primary/Family Medicine Office of Sandra Balog, M.D.,
nurse Slava Hruban.
tel: 555-0199, email: general.office@localhealthclinic.org,
hours: even dates: afternoon (1:00 PM-7:30 PM, house calls 7:30 PM-8:30 PM), odd dates: morning (7:00 AM-1:30 PM, house calls 1:30 PM-2:30 PM), working Saturday: 4th of the month (7:00 AM-2:30 PM).
Here’s what I want to know. I get it—she might be slammed at the office, maybe she's dealing with personal stress, and there are specific hours set for house calls on the official site. But based on that call, she was completely unprofessional, gave zero explanation or guidance, and just slammed the phone down. Is she legally allowed to:
a) refuse a visit to a man who is essentially on his deathbed?
b) arrogantly bark "find a new doctor" if you aren't satisfied?
c) be rude when the caller hasn't given her any reason to be?
d) hang up on someone calling in a panic about their father without providing any medical guidance?
Also, does anyone know which institution I should contact to file a formal complaint?
After talking to her, we called emergency services. They understood the doctor's stance immediately, grasped the gravity of the situation, and did their job perfectly.
So, we have a doctor refusing to provide referrals, refusing house calls, acting entitled, and hanging up on people. From what I hear, this isn't her first time. 🙂🙂🙂
My stepfather's father has been in declining health for a year and a half, and things just took a turn for the worse. (Just so you understand how serious this is, a lady from the nursing home told us yesterday to prepare for the worst.) My stepfather called his primary care physician, Sandra Balog, who works at the community health center in a small town, USA (the patient is actually in a rural area, about 10-15 minutes away). He asked if she could perform a house call, and she rudely snapped that he shouldn't bother and should just find a new doctor if he isn't happy. He tried to explain the situation politely—he even offered to pick her up in his car—but she just stayed blunt and hung up on him.
The website for the local health clinic clearly states:
Primary/Family Medicine Office of Sandra Balog, M.D.,
nurse Slava Hruban.
tel: 555-0199, email: general.office@localhealthclinic.org,
hours: even dates: afternoon (1:00 PM-7:30 PM, house calls 7:30 PM-8:30 PM), odd dates: morning (7:00 AM-1:30 PM, house calls 1:30 PM-2:30 PM), working Saturday: 4th of the month (7:00 AM-2:30 PM).
Here’s what I want to know. I get it—she might be slammed at the office, maybe she's dealing with personal stress, and there are specific hours set for house calls on the official site. But based on that call, she was completely unprofessional, gave zero explanation or guidance, and just slammed the phone down. Is she legally allowed to:
a) refuse a visit to a man who is essentially on his deathbed?
b) arrogantly bark "find a new doctor" if you aren't satisfied?
c) be rude when the caller hasn't given her any reason to be?
d) hang up on someone calling in a panic about their father without providing any medical guidance?
Also, does anyone know which institution I should contact to file a formal complaint?
After talking to her, we called emergency services. They understood the doctor's stance immediately, grasped the gravity of the situation, and did their job perfectly.
So, we have a doctor refusing to provide referrals, refusing house calls, acting entitled, and hanging up on people. From what I hear, this isn't her first time. 🙂🙂🙂