Psychiatrist discharged me.

I called my psychiatrists office to make an appointment today and was informed that he has discharged me and I am no longer a patient.

A brief update about my history with him. I saw him for a year. He diagnosed me in half an hour and started the meds. Over time i started to feel very dismissed, he minimized my trauma and ignored blatent PTSD symptoms (while i was doing trauma therapy). He was condescending when i questioned him. He made insinuations about my sexuality, my character. I really feel he was intimidated by my intelligence.

He knew how I felt in some ways as my therapist did mention some things to help me assert myself. I was looking for a new psychiatrist and he knew that. He promised me from the start that he would figure out what is going on, that he wouldn't abandon me.

I find it really horrible that I wasn't informed I was being discharged. I should have been contacted regarding this. He should have waited until I had someone else lined up. I'm on mood stabilizers and anti psychotics for BiPolar Disorder. I really am screwed in the medication department now. I can't just not take my meds. No one in my area is accepting new patients.

He really failed me. I hope he knows that.

My T on the other hand (who works with him) has been very supportive. Apparently I'm not the only patient this has happened to. My T has suggested I file a complaint.

Does this sound unethical? Maybe I wasn't a perfect patient, but I'm not awful.

I am so, so sorry.

What a freaking douche caboose.

Would the office provide a referral? I read someone at these forums suggested calling a local hospital and asking if any pdoc there could help?

Sorry. It's his bad though, not yours. Try not to put it on you.

Sunne, what a terrible, unprofessional thing for him to do. No reason, nothing?? The man ought to be shot. I don't blame you for being upset.

I would try find out if there is a local AMA board and report him for unprofessional behavior. If's he's done it to you, chances are he's done it to other patients. Think of the trauma and feelings of abandonment he's causing.

So sorry this has happened. I hope your T or MD can help you with a referral. Please post again and let us know how you make out

I was looking for another pdoc. I told my GP what was going on and she cancelled an appointment because I broke down in her office. I felt retraumatized. She let them know this.
My T let him know I was questioning his care.
I really think that pissed him off.

But I don't know.

The last time I saw him I was in crisis. I left feeling suicidal.
Then a week and a half ago I was in hospital for suicidal idealation.

He fired me when I'm this unstable.

You would think, an ethical doctor would try and fix the situation.

I'm looking in a nearby city for a pdoc. I hope this is a blessing in disguise.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm thinking I'm unhelpable. My T says its not my fault. This is the way he is.

None of this is your fault. Your T suggesting you file a complaint makes me believe that he/she feels this was way out of line. They are colleagues of a sort and him/her suggesting a complaint must indicate that something is really messed up here. I'm so glad you have a supportive T. Please don't put ANY of this on yourself!!!! If you're up to it, file that complaint, but don't feel pressured to do it. I hope you find a new pdoc soon.

(((Sunne)))

It doesn't sound right at all that your psychiatrist has discontinued seeing you without referring you to another, to take his/her place. Whether or not he's ethically responsible is unknown to me though.

You have every right to file a complaint with the psychiatrist. Hopefully, your good relationship with your T will continue and he/she will refer you to a more helpful and understanding psychT.

thats awful!!! he sounds like a petulant 4yo who isnt getting their way and is having a fit! you should drefinitely report this loser!

Yes, T agrees with me.

I said to him, "Maybe I'm having some weird transference with him."
T said, "Or maybe that's the way he is." then looks at me intently.

He's even said right out, " it's not you, it's him." - "don't think it's all in your head." - "trust yourself."

I told T a story another T (crisis worker) told me about women banning together to throw doctors out of practice. I said, "I'm probably the only one though."
T looks at me with intense eyes and says, "You're not."
That made me sad.

They are coworkers, my treatment team. So, remembering this helps to know its not me. T is on my side.

That's just plain wrong, Sunne. I'm sorry he did that to you.

Discharging you without referring you to another physician is patient abandonment. I would file a complaint with the board of medicine in your state.

Yes, this is unethetical. He is obligated to make sure you are receiving care before he discharges you. You could have seizures if your mood stabilizers run out.

You should definitely file a complaint.

See, the problem with a complaint is... He is chief of psychiatry in the armed forces. A big wig in the military. Oh and his specialty is PTSD. I wonder how many soilders have been minimized by him so they cant get off duty for PTSD. Maybe that's more of his specialty. Not believing what anyone says to him.

That's a big can of worms. He will probably say, "She has borderline tendencies and is unstable."

When he told me i had borderline traits i asked him what that is. He said, "Manipulative and dramatic." That is nowhere in the DSM. Rather dehumanizing.

*trigger*
When I told him I was having terrible nightmares about being tortured and assaulted, he said "So you're into bdsm and are bisexual." wtf? No, i was tortured by a woman sexually as a child. He knew that. Invalidating.

There are a lot of these moments.

I'm just angry.

Wtf is right. I'm so sorry you're stuck dealing with all of this.

You should file a complaint. It doesn't matter what his position is. If enough people complain they will have to look at it. The military isn't the one who oversees his ethical behavior related to his licensure (though you should complain to them also). The person to complain to is the medical board of the state that he is licensed in (this may not be the state in which you see him as the military (or at least the VA) allows licensing in one state and being able to work in other states). You can also complain to your own state medical board (even if his license isn't out of your state) and the American Psychiatric Association. His behavior is patient abandonment and not acceptable. I hope you find a good doctor quickly. I am sorry this happened to you.

That's awful! I had a PDOC once who phoned the pharmacy and canceled all my RX's because I was following my T to another practice.

Still, you should file a complaint with the medical board. Patient abandonment is a very objective thing, and it will be hard for him to deny that that's what happened.

Also, I recommend you get a copy of all your medical records from his office stat, before he has a chance to change them.

Yep, that's reason for filling a complain.

Im sorry but....

...he sounds like an asshole..and a coward....and and and....
Just his whole demeanor makes me angry, in your post.

I hope you find someone better and I agree...file a big complaint.

Sunne, I am so sorry, but maybe this will open another door to a better T

To find Prince Charming, you must first get away from the Ugly Sisters.
It could indeed be a blessing in the long run.

So sorry, Sunne, that this happened to you, its not nice being abandoned and rejected.. I have also just finished therapy, few weeks ago. therapist said he gonna discharge me , after 15 months. I said okay.. but found last few weeks very hard.. I called him, but he said he cant take my calls so I am making sure I don't embarrass myself.. by calling now.. Also my therapist told me .. stop talking! one day, Anyway, I hope you get the rite help you need. Best of Luck!

this thread is 4 years old

Not your fault!!! What a unethical Doctor.