Do I Have To Pay This Schmuck?

[Cypressmyst]

I just got the bill for the jerk of an Endocrinologist that I went to see at the beginning of the month. He told me I was crazy and it was all in my head even though my thyroid meds had lowered from .150 to .100 in 4 months time. How are lab results in my head.

Jerk wouldn't even listen to the plethora of things that have cleared up and refused to entertain the fact that I had ever had a swollen thyroid because the paperwork didn't get sent to him. He would be happy to revisit with me again when I had the labs sent over. My word wasn't good enough.

In short he was a condicending @$#@%$%^& the likes of which many of you have dealt with for far too long.

My question is, what recourse do I have? He charged me $450 dollars to be a prick and I won't be going back to him. Insurance paid all but $100 but still. I don't think he deserves a dime.

What recourse do I have against this jerk? I already let people know about my experience on ratemymd.com and the like but is there anything else I can do? He isn't listening to his patients...isn't that a dangerous thing for a doctor?

Thanks!

[dilettantesteph]

I forgot how much I had to pay the doctor who told me that extended breastfeeding would give me cancer, when it actually reduces the chances of getting cancer. You wouldn't pay someone to not fix you car, why do we have to pay doctors when they don't provide service. I don't know the answer.

[kareng]

I just got the bill for the jerk of an Endocrinologist that I went to see at the beginning of the month. He told me I was crazy and it was all in my head even though my thyroid meds had lowered from .150 to .100 in 4 months time. How are lab results in my head.

Jerk wouldn't even listen to the plethora of things that have cleared up and refused to entertain the fact that I had ever had a swollen thyroid because the paperwork didn't get sent to him. He would be happy to revisit with me again when I had the labs sent over. My word wasn't good enough.

In short he was a condicending @$#@%$%^& the likes of which many of you have dealt with for far too long.

My question is, what recourse do I have? He charged me $450 dollars to be a prick and I won't be going back to him. Insurance paid all but $100 but still. I don't think he deserves a dime.

What recourse do I have against this jerk? I already let people know about my experience on ratemymd.com and the like but is there anything else I can do? He isn't listening to his patients...isn't that a dangerous thing for a doctor?

Thanks!

You could see if your insurance company has anyway to file a complaint. They paid most of the bill. Find out what specifically they were billed for and see if you can dispute it.

[elk]

I wish there was something we could do about doctors like this! IMHO, most of them aren't very competent. They don't care and they just run you through an assembly line type of process.

I've never heard one good thing about endocrinologists and my one experience proved that to be true -- her explanation for everything was that humans weren't meant to live beyond 40 so of course we feel miserable. Then she proceeded to go on a rant about how stupid everyone is.

[ravenwoodglass]

If you want to keep your credit rating good yes you do have to pay him. The advice to contact the insurance company was good and you may also want to forward a letter of complaint to whoever is the head of the practice he is in and perhaps the AMA. Also you should ask for complete copies of any lab work you had done by him and you should get copies of all lab work and other tests from all your other doctors. That way you can bring them with you for appointments.

[GlutenFreeManna]

If you want to keep your credit rating good yes you do have to pay him. The advice to contact the insurance company was good and you may also want to forward a letter of complaint to whoever is the head of the practice he is in and perhaps the AMA. Also you should ask for complete copies of any lab work you had done by him and you should get copies of all lab work and other tests from all your other doctors. That way you can bring them with you for appointments.

Raven has the best advice. Unfortunately you will have to pay and then spread the word to everyone you know NOT to visit this jerk's practice. I tried to fight a charge once for a pregnancy test I didn't authorize. I went in because I had a fever and was throwing up. The PA asked if I could be pregnant and I said that was impossible because I was not sexually active (didn't even have a boyfriend). They did a pregnancy test anyway and my crappy insurance at the time didn't cover the test. So they charged me $40 to find out what I already told them was impossible. I called and called and tried to get them to remove the charge because I didn't authorize the test. I was SO angry I didn't pay the bill until it went to collections. It didn't hurt my credit, but it could have had I not paid it. It's things like this, however, that make me glad we have a choice in who we see for doctors. I chose to never go back to that practice. I did find other doctors that were more willing to listen. Don't give up searching for a doctor that cares and is knowledgeable. There are a few out there.

[mushroom]

I don't know what type of insurance you have. But I had a similar experience with a condescending jerk in my HMO at the time, who was so totally rude and disrepectful of me as a patient. I went home and wrote it all down, but didn't send it until I had calmed down a llittle and sounded more reasonable. Then I sent a letter of complaint to the Physicians Group he belonged to and the HMO they were contracted to, and brought a world of *$@# down on him, as I found out from one of my other doctors who was contacted by the HMO about me . I am afraid revenge is the only reward available here, but it can be sweet Let them know they can't get away scott free with this kind of behavior. Send the letter to whoever is appropriate in your insurance hierarchy.

[ravenwoodglass]

I don't know what type of insurance you have. But I had a similar experience with a condescending jerk in my HMO at the time, who was so totally rude and disrepectful of me as a patient. I went home and wrote it all down, but didn't send it until I had calmed down a llittle and sounded more reasonable. Then I sent a letter of complaint to the Physicians Group he belonged to and the HMO they were contracted to, and brought a world of *$@# down on him, as I found out from one of my other doctors who was contacted by the HMO about me . I am afraid revenge is the only reward available here, but it can be sweet Let them know they can't get away scott free with this kind of behavior. Send the letter to whoever is appropriate in your insurance hierarchy.

Good for you!!!!! If more of us stand up for ourselves against these insulting and unknowledgeable doctors perhaps some of them might learn to treat us as human beings and with a bit more kindness and respect.

[Hos]

Jerk wouldn't even listen to the plethora of things that have cleared up and refused to entertain the fact that I had ever had a swollen thyroid because the paperwork didn't get sent to him. He would be happy to revisit with me again when I had the labs sent over. My word wasn't good enough.

Needless to say, no doctor should put a person down and say it's all in their head. Although, I work at a hospital and doctors have to have proof before they change medications or do other health-altering things. Their license is on the line and if someone is mistaken or worse, it's their career and their lawsuit.

I'm new so maybe I didn't get the whole story and this doctor has a long history with you, otherwise, IMHO they have to have proof but they need to do it without insulting you!

Every state has a State Board association and written letters are always taken seriously per federal guidelines. I hope you can get some relief soon with a new doctor that cares for their patients.

[Cypressmyst]

I'm new so maybe I didn't get the whole story and this doctor has a long history with you, otherwise, IMHO they have to have proof but they need to do it without insulting you!

The swollen thyroid was just an observation I was giving him, all I wanted out of the visit was to get on a healthy eating plan that would get me off my thyroid meds one day. But he said it was impossible and I would always need meds.

I had no respect for anything that came out of his mouth the second he refused to listen to what was actually going on with me and dismissed me as crazy. He also thought that I had to have D and be rail thin to have a gluten issue.

This is the "expertise" I paid $450 dollars for.

I will write to anyone who will listen. Thank you for the suggestions everyone and for the understanding words. I knew what to expect going in and so his idiocy wasn't as bad as it could have been. And that is largely thanks to this forum and the web in general.

I hope I do get off my meds one day. He'll be getting a letter from me.

I'm seeing some doctors out in California now, I live in Wisconsin but am tired of paying idiots to call me crazy or tell me I'm fine and send me on my way. I want answers and I want to be made whole again.

Again, I'll keep you all updated on what I learn. *crosses fingers*