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gardenergirl said:
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Simcha said:

<font color="blue"> The really scary part here gardengirl, is the possible outcomes of a patient he sees--- I don't have Major Depressive Disorder (or any other mood disorder), but what if I was severely depressed, maybe even suicidal? This really could have tipped someone over the edge. You are coming to them for help, usually in a situation where you are at your most vulnerable... and you are placing your trust in them to help you.
Now, I'm not suicidal and I don't have depression, but... what if?????

It's really hard to know what to do in this situation. I do think the public needs to be protected from PDOCS and T's who are abusive, unprofessional, and/or inept.

The problem I have is that it is really stressful the way that you have to report the PDOC to the licensing board. They will do an investigation, but in my state, you have to file a report with your name. The PDOC then knows not only who reported you, but then... so does everyone else, because they publish those on the state licensure website. A certain amount of your personal life would then become public. The process can also take a year, sometimes more. I'm too stressed out as it is. I certainly have some thinking to do.

It should be interesting to see what his version of events are when he writes his report on me for that visit... I shudder to think of it. </font>

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I agree, what if someone in crisis or with severe symptoms went in and he acted that way? You didn't deserve to be treated that way, and in addition, you didn't get the help you need. But I can understand your hesitation about reporting given the requirements in your state. That's awful! What ever happened to patient privacy? That's a really good area for advocates to take on to get the rules changed. I hope there are folks working on that in your state on behalf of the public.

In the meantime, it's hard to know what to do. Is there a local medical association or state medical association that is not associated with the medical licensing board? Maybe they could take a complaint either anonymously or confidentially. Or perhaps you could report it to your insurance company. They want to know that the docs on their panels are competent. (I'm trying hard not to snicker as I say that, as there are way too many "phantom panels" and outdated panels, but anyway...).

Of course the most important thing is that you are protecting yourself from him as best you can, and that's good. Sounds like you've got better boundaries than he does.

Take care,

gg

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I can handle other persons freaking out, and other persons crisis situations really well. I'm just glad I wasn't in a crisis situation when I saw him because I'm not as good at calming myself down as I am at calming others down (my job deals exclusively in crisis situations).

His poor office staff had no idea, and are probably asking themselves why that nice young person the other day basically ran out of the office with the senile PDOC yelling behind me "I won't bill you!!" How awkward.

I'm happy his specialty isn't surgery, but this can be just as dangerous. I don't know of any other regulatory panel, and the last thing I'm going to do is speak to my insurance company. There is no such thing as privacy when you have insurance. At least I have group insurance and not individual insurance, as I have a bit more privacy than if I have individual insurance.
I think this is just one of those situations that I will have to let go for the sake of my sanity. I'll be speaking further about it with my T soon, and I'll have to see what he says.