My Scary Experience with a Doctor and the 'About Doctors' Website
Hello everyone!
I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of writing negative reviews, especially when it comes to medical professionals. But there was a situation in my life that I just couldn't keep quiet about.
The root of the problem was a sore throat I'd been dealing with for a long time, and my addiction to decongestant sprays. I decided to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist at a private clinic after reading some good reviews about them on the 'About Doctors' website.
Unfortunately, the doctor I saw didn't help me at all. Instead of offering any solutions, he immediately suggested surgery on my nasal mucosa. That was completely off the mark, since that's actually the last resort for getting off decongestants. And to make matters worse, I hadn't even tried to tackle the problem on my own yet. But the most ridiculous thing was that after I refused the surgery, he prescribed me the same medication that I was dependent on - Xylometazoline. And to top it all off, after examining my throat, he told me that everything was terrible and that I needed to see an oncologist ASAP. No cancer was found, by the way.
Given my past experiences with doctors trying to scare me with dire diagnoses, I didn't believe a word he said. But just to be safe, I went to my local clinic for some tests. The results were good, and the oncologist was genuinely puzzled as to why I'd even come to see him.
After I managed to kick my decongestant habit and got my throat treated by a different doctor, I decided to write this review to warn people about this particular specialist.
About the review platform, I have to say that I was pretty surprised by how easy it was to use. Everything is straightforward, no fuss. You can sign up, leave a review, and even record a consultation directly on their platform. I tried it once, and it worked seamlessly, which is way better than calling the customer support team.
However, my experience with the admin team was a different story. I submitted a detailed review with a doctor's note and sent it for moderation without a second thought. After some time, I received a notification saying that I was missing some supporting documents. I needed to send a contract with the hospital and a payment receipt. I had, of course, thrown those away, but it's only for negative reviews that they ask for this extra hassle. For a positive review, all I needed to do was take a photo of the doctor's conclusion. That's just weird, right?
A few days later, I found an email saying that the clinic wanted to dispute my review and have it removed. Bingo! To get my review published, I had to provide the missing document and agree to a revised version of the review.
When I read the edited version, I was shocked. I'll show you a few points that really got my blood boiling. I'll highlight the changes made by the editor in red.
This isn't something I knew, this is in the instructions. By adding this, they create the impression that it's just my assumption.
Or look at this, they completely twisted the meaning of what I was trying to say.
I was initially put off by the nurse's active listening during the consultation. It felt like an interrogation rather than a medical examination. But that's not the nurse's fault - it's the clinic's policy that's the issue.
These changes make the review seem silly and untrustworthy.
I didn't want the review to be published in this form, so I asked them to retract it. Interestingly, positive reviews aren't edited in the same way.
It's already clear that the platform is working against publishing honest reviews about doctors!
Disappointed, I decided to post the review on the Federal Medical and Biological Agency's website. It's been viewed by a huge number of people, and I hope it's warned some of them away from seeing this doctor.
I wouldn't recommend trusting the 'About Doctors' website. It could be useful if it worked honestly. Of course, there are genuine reviews on the site, but it's difficult for an average person to distinguish them from the fake ones.
The platform has become a marketing tool for doctors. In many clinics in my city, there are posters asking patients to leave reviews on this website. Even the discharge papers mention it.
What's more, doctors can pay to get their reviews placed in the top spots. These reviews are marked with a gold frame and labeled as 'special placement.' Be cautious and don't fall for it!
I've found it's a good idea to check out reviews outside of "Doctor's Reviews". Just Google the doctor's name and see what comes up.
Read reviews about the hospital they work at. If there are red flags, it's worth looking for a different specialist. A good doctor isn't going to work at a hospital that's more interested in making a quick buck than in providing quality care.
Check out a doctor's social media profiles. Most of them have accounts where they share useful info. I've learned a lot about a doctor's approach by reading their posts, and I've even been able to spot some warning signs. For example, I'd never go to a gynecologist who posts about burning off cervical lesions or treating HPV with unproven treatments. That's just a big red flag.
Stay informed. There's a wealth of information out there, and it's easier than ever to find reliable sources. There are blogs from doctors who follow evidence-based medicine, where they share their scientific approach with the public. And of course, there are the results of all sorts of scientific studies available online.
Our health is our most valuable asset, and we have the right to make informed decisions about it. Unfortunately, in a world where medicine has become a business, it's hard to find good doctors. But they're out there, and it's worth taking the time to find one. So, educate yourself, approach medical decisions with a critical eye, and leave honest reviews on resources that are doing things right.
I know you're reading these reviews and writing responses. I'm glad I'm someone who can spot a biased review. It's scary to think about what could have happened if I'd trusted them. But there are people out there who are more trusting, and they might be misled by a doctor's words. For example, if a doctor tells someone they might have cancer, it could send them into a depression - or even worse. So, it's essential to let people share their true experiences. It might just save someone's life.
That's all for now. I hope my review was helpful. Thanks for reading!