Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas 
#50682
19 y
8,737
RN
I went to see Dr. Robert Owens in Dallas regarding stapedectomy surgery. He met me for only a few minutes, told me he was overbooked, explained nothing about the surgical procedure I was about to have--said the nurses would tell me, but they rushed me down to pre-admit without answering. I did not find out until the day of surgery (20 minutes prior) that I was going to be under general anesthesia, be intubated or have an IV. I was noticably upset (crying and stating I was nervous and scared) and he stated that this was an elective procedure and if I was this upset, maybe I should leave and walked out of the pre-op room. He did not speak to me after the procedure, so I had no idea if I had otoscerlosis or not and had to call the office 2 days after surgery to find out I had packing in my ear and to be told not to get my ear wet. I felt completely unprepared for the surgery. No one answered any of my questions and it really was a scary and terrible experience. I wrote him 2 letters and have had a lot of anxiety over this surgery. I think about it constantly and cannot even see anything related to "surgery" etc., without thinking about what happened to me. I could not even go to my own family doctor for an appt., I ended up walking about before I got to see her. I obtained my medical reoords and found out there was a student in the room during my surgery, without my knowledge. I later learned the bruise on my ankle was from blood taken out during the surgery. The bruise lasted a month and was the size of my fist. The doctor said the anesthesiologist took the blood from my ankle, but he does not note this in the medical records. I am worried the "student" was allowed to do this. I wasn't told until 3 weeks after the surgery that a bone was removed from my ear. It's scary realizing how they moved my unconscious body around during surgery and all the drugs they gave me. Really terrible anxiety, not sure what I should do about this. Any suggestions on what I should do to tell others, should I write to the ENT that referred me and to my family doctor? I feel like I have some type of obligation to do so??
Registered users can respond to this rating
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas grumblebum2
19 y
3,788
MoreThis is a reply to # 616,369I had blood taken from my elbow after my daughter was born, it was very painful and left a large bruise, even the Doctor's hands, where he was gripping me hard so the elbow didn't move, left bruises. If it's the same sort of blood test that I had you are lucky it was done while you were under, it's very painful. The doctor was very apologetic but needed to get blood from a deep protected vein, because veins close to the surface would be saturated with whatever was in the IVs. He said it had to be taken at a joint deep between the bones.
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas dakota644
19 y
3,667
This is a reply to # 616,372I just wish my doctor had told me that he was going to take blood from my ankle BEFORE I had the surgery. In my first letter to him, I had to ask what happened, and thought they bumped it during the surgery. I just think it was terrible that I was not even told about being under anesthesia, being intubated, having an IV, until minutes before the surgery. I didn't even know he permanently removed a bone from my body until weeks after the surgery. It is appalling. I hope that the anesthesiologist did do it--like the doctor said, and not the student in the room. It would really upset me if some student I didn't even know was going to be there was allowed to "experiment" on me. Anyways
thanks for the reply.
tess
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas dakota644
19 y
3,667
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas lisag
19 y
3,568
This is a reply to # 616,369writing is never a bad idea. I had some unhappy surgery from a doctor - there were complications. i did in fact write him a (very nasty) note. I was very upfront about what I thought about him, his quality of care, and his (nonexistent) bedside manner. He was actually the head of a famous group of doctors - I even saw him on a TV special one time, as being the expert they quoted. None of that matters, he sucked. The only drawback is that the doctor will get to respond to your note, if you write one. Mine did, and I didn't like what he had to say (it proved what an idiot he was). If I had that to do over again, I'd still write the note - but I'd throw out his response, without reading it. I mean, the point truly isn't what the doctor thinks about his own crummy performance, its really about making other people aware of his crummy performance. And if the doctor does take your note to heart and change his behavior, so much the better.
If you do write a note, I'd include the hospital in the correspondance - somewhere in the maze of hospital bureaucracy there is someone in charge of patient care, in some way. The doctor also has a boss at the hospital, someone he reports to. So.... the note might actually do some good there. If you call in advance you'll be able to find out who the people that should get your note are, and talking to them in person might even be cathartic too. Also, I think I would send the note to the doctor that referred you - they should know never to refer anyone there again.
I am sorry for your crummy experience. I have had a very crummy surgery experience myself and can definitely relate.
Best,
Lisa- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas dakota644
19 y
3,409
MoreThis is a reply to # 616,373Lisa,
Thanks for your reply. I sent my doctor 2 letters, once on 7/8/05 and again on 8/11/05. I also sent letters to my family doctor and the doctor who referred me...in addition I reported the doctor to the Texas Medical Association for investigation and plan to fax tomorrow--my letters to the doctor and medical records for their review. I didn't include the hospital, but I am glad you mentioned it, as I will also send them a letter and include the letters I sent to the doctor. Thanks for the advice. I realize that I can't take away my experience, but I can try to provent others from having the same experience. I just think it is terrible. It is nice to be heard and feel justified in my feelings about this horrible experience.
thanks again,
tess
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas dakota644
19 y
3,409
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas kmorris
19 y
4,067
This is a reply to # 616,369Hello,
Your bad doctor is rather quite typical as far as doctors go. If writing a few letters will make you feel better then do it. You don't explain the condition of your hearing and symptoms before and after the surgery. If the surgery handled what you wanted handled then I don't think you will reach a receptive audience with your letters.
The effect of general anesthesia is way underestimated. There is a book called Dianetics, Modern Science of Mental Health. (Don't be offended by the title!!! It is the story of how the mind works and the techniques for making a person feel better). You can get it on Amazon.com. It makes very good reading about what can happen to a person while unconscious. There are even techniques that can "erase" the effects. I'm sorry for your situation. I find the medical profession very scary, to the point that every day I have the urge to cancel my medical insurance. I have gone to doctors with a simple, understandable request and have been met with people too dense to look at me and so much of a bully they will not listen to me. My girlfriend does better with them because she has a quick mouth and and quick mind and can "chat them down!"
So, happy travels!!
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas #19729
19 y
3,526
This is a reply to # 616,378Everyone has bad experiences with doctors. I've had a few and because of that I choose not to have medical insurance. If you don't have it, you have to make alternate choices, which are ultimately, more than likely, much better for you anyway. I haven't seen a doctor in 7 years for anything. If I break a bone, or suffer a serious wound, then I would see one.
Tests, drugs, surgery, radiation, chemo, "annual exams",...they are not for me.
Thirty years ago, when I was in labor with my 3rd child, a son, the doctor and all the nurses on duty refused to believe I was in labor. Likely, because I never made a sound while going through labor pains. All they had to do was check. My husband did. Being young at the time, I thought they knew their business and would tend to me in due time. Never happened. When my bladder swelled from drinking a quart of chocolate milk before being admitted (I never use dairy now) and I requested a bathroom, they pointed me to a portapotty and left the room. That's where my son was born.
Needless to say, I have very little use for medical doctors any more.
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas #19729
19 y
3,526
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas taa401
16 y
3,075
This is a reply to # 616,369I too am about to have a stapedectomy and was referred to Dr Robert Owens. Is there another Dr. in the Dallas area that does this surgery? I was told Dr. Owens was the only one and the best one. Please anyone who knows the answer to this let me know my surgery date is approaching. Also if there is anyone who has had Dr. Owens perform this surgery and had good results I would love to hear from you too.
- Re: Bad doctor in Dallas, Texas grumblebum2
19 y
3,788
Share:
Translate This Page: