EDITOR – I would like to share a negative experience I recently had with a local specialist.
One frequently reads how unscrupulous medical practitioners abuse medical aids.
About two years ago, I started slowing down physically and encountered breathing problems. I sought the help of a local specialist. After undergoing some tests in his rooms, his diagnosis was that one of my heart valves was narrowing.
As prescribed medication wasn’t improving my condition, I then sought his help this November. He booked me into a Durban hospital where further tests could be done on their newer machines. I also had to go without food and water from 10pm the Monday night until 5.30pm the next day.
I was finally wheeled into the radiography department, where I was informed that I also needed a stomach operation, which had nothing to do with my original diagnosis. On Wednesday morning, this specialist informed me that he wasn’t going to insert a stent, but rather perform a bypass procedure, which I refused. Later the same day, another specialist conducted the same tests on the same machines the first specialist has in his rooms.
His diagnosis was the same. Of course, all these tests cost lots of money. Late on Wednesday evening, an angiogram was performed on me. I asked the second specialist why a stent procedure couldn’t be performed. His answer was that my value measurements had to be taken and the device had to be specially ordered, which could take up to five weeks to arrive.
On Thursday, I received the shock of my life when I was duly informed that if I didn’t have a bypass, I would simply fall down and die. The first specialist then turned his back on me and I was sent home.
After much agonising, I made another appointment with this specialist to see how he could help me. I told him how shocked and frightened I was when he told me I would ‘just fall down and die’. He denied ever saying this. He also accused me of being delusional.
Sadly, the help I needed didn’t materialise. I also suffered physically and like he suggested, ‘mentally’ and my medical aid is now much poorer, thanks to all the unnecessary procedures performed.
If this specialist ever reads this letter, I’m sure he’ll know who I am. I’ll even challenge him to a lie detector test to get to the truth.
VERY CONCERNED
