| I have been waiting for weeks now to get my wisdom teeth extraction, which was deemed urgent by my dentist due to an abscess and infection, and I was referred to Dr. Samuel Strauss. First of all, I don't have enough vacation days for the recovery time, so I decided to book the surgery on a Friday. But because of Dr. Strauss' summer hours, he is taking off every single Friday after this week. Fair enough. But after I booked this Friday, his receptionist called me back to tell me that I would have to come in on Thursday instead because Dr. Strauss decided to make a personal appointment. I was hesitant but willing to get the surgery on Thursday and then go in to work on Friday, but my boyfriend only had Friday off, so I would have to go in alone. Since experiencing a terrifying reaction after the anesthesia was administered for a biopsy years ago, I have opted to forego it in subsequent procedures; therefore, I only wanted local freezing. The admin assistant said that was fine and even verified with the nurse and assured me that I could take an Ativan to help me relax during the procedure. This is a medication that my *doctor has prescribed for my panic attacks, and I have taken it many times in the past; I know how it affects me. But Dr. Strauss took it upon himself to call me back and lecture me about how he "wouldn't let anyone else take an Ativan, so why should [he] make an exception for [me]?!!" When I asked him to explain his reasoning, he claimed that taking one measly one milligram Ativan would be the equivalent of "being drunk for four hours." (!!!) That is possibly the most ignorant, uneducated, and downright ridiculous claim that I have ever heard from a medical professional! Well I suppose I should inform my employer of this then, because apparently I have been drunk at work on several occasions...He then snapped, "I know how [benzos] work!" Oh really? Because clearly you do not. All that medication does is help the user relax and remain calm so that s/he doesn't have a panic attack, which is what I want to avoid while someone is drilling in my mouth! Dr. Strauss tried to claim that I would require "supervision" and help getting home if I were to take this medication, which in no way mimics the effects of being intoxicated; it is a mild sedative. Also I *would have had someone there with me had he not decided to make another appointment during the time that my surgery was scheduled. But he still refused to allow me to take it and went on to chastise me for not following up regarding my medical tests (to ensure that I'm still cancer-free) after he told my boyfriend and I specifically that he would call my doctor himself. Overall he was very arrogant, rude, and condescending, so I decided to cancel an appointment I very much need because I don't want to give that man my money or have him performing minor surgery in my mouth. And quite frankly, when a patient is paying over a thousand dollars for an extraction, you'd think they would at least be treated with kindness and respect. I hope his surgery technique is better than his bedside manner... |
