on call doctor out of line or not? your take ladies!

dbhadra
dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
edited April 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
Interested to hear people's reactions to this story:

Sunday night, I started running a fever - fairly low - around 100 - but was rising and my throat was sore so I called the line for the on-call doctor. They said to call back if he did not call back in 20 minutes, so I did. Then he called me back and said that I could either (1) get a prescription at an all night drugstore or (2) go to the hospital and get evaluated as my WBCs had been very low on Thursday. At first I thought that I would get the prescription, but didn;t have the pharmacy number, so he then said "call back the on- call line with the drugstore information."

After talking with my husband, I decided to go to the hospital to get my WBCs checked and also to get the antibiotic via IV. So I called back from my cell phone, to the number the doctor had called me from, and left a message that I was headed for the hospital. I also called the on-call answering service and left the same message.

The doctor then called me back and told me, "There is no need to call my cell phone. My family may be sleeping. There is no neccessity to let me know you are going to the hospital as the hospital will let me know when you arrive." I was floored, murmured something vague about assumed that the number he called me from was a hospital number, and got off the phone.

Was he out of line, or was I?

Laura

Comments

  • Hippiechick58
    Hippiechick58 Member Posts: 320
    #2
    I can't say for sure but
    I can't say for sure but sounds like a miscommunication to me!

    Dianne
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #3
    Miscommunication/Misunderstan
    Miscommunication/Misunderstanding on both sides I think - based on what is written. Dr gave you 2 options and told you to call the 'On Call' number with the pharmacy number as you said that was what you wanted to do. You decided that you didn't want to do that after all. Had it been me, I would have called the 'On Call' number and told them that I had change my mind and was going to the ER.

    I don't see a "right" or "wrong" and there are always at least 3 sides to any 'disagreement' - yours - his and somewhere between is what happened without personal feelingsinvolved.

    Susan
  • pinkflutterby
    pinkflutterby Member Posts: 615 Member
    #4
    Rague said:

    Miscommunication/Misunderstan
    Miscommunication/Misunderstanding on both sides I think - based on what is written. Dr gave you 2 options and told you to call the 'On Call' number with the pharmacy number as you said that was what you wanted to do. You decided that you didn't want to do that after all. Had it been me, I would have called the 'On Call' number and told them that I had change my mind and was going to the ER.

    I don't see a "right" or "wrong" and there are always at least 3 sides to any 'disagreement' - yours - his and somewhere between is what happened without personal feelingsinvolved.

    Susan

    I say its his job hes on
    I say its his job hes on call so CALL! I dislike the inconsideration we get from these docs sometimes. When I worked, I was a family law paralegal, I always reminded myself, I have assisted thousands of people through their divorce but to this client this is their, hopefully, only divorce and try to keep my compassion, even when its the same o same o to me, it was not to them. Hope your feeling better :)
  • Katmy
    Katmy Member Posts: 93
    #5
    My physician works with
    My physician works with another that has horrible "bed side manner." I complained to her after multiple unsatisfactory calls to him. She gave me her home phone. I don't think I am the only one who complains.

    Maybe tell your Oncologist what happened and then see what he/she recommends. You may not be the only one who has experienced brusk behavior from him. Your Onc may have another avenue for you. He was super rude to you. And... if it was not you to call him on his cell phone, the hospital was going to. Either way, the cell phone rings. What is up with this guy? I was a doctor's child and the phone rang off the hook at all hours. I learned to sleep through, go back to sleep, whatever. You put no imposition on his family. Let me assure you.
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #6
    The doctor was probably taken aback
    when you called his cell - he would only be expecting the service to contact him. However, he certainly could have been more understanding. And if he feels that way about his cell, he should have the number restricted.

    Sue
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #7
    The only time I called the
    The only time I called the on call number I was told I would hear back within an hour, didn't hear from him so I called back. Again was told an hour. I went to the ER anyways. He never did call. When I went to my appointment with my oncologist, he asked me why I didn't call the on call? Told him I did, he looked at me kind of funny, so I pulled out my cell and showed him both calls.

    He started making excuses and I stopped him right there. I had diverticulitis with a 102 fever, that felt the same as a blockage a year before that had me GI tubed for 8 days in the hospital. Asked him what he would recommended, he said he would have sent me to the ER. Then he gave me his cell for emergency. I have never used it, but seeings that he was my mom's, mine, and my 25 year old sons oncologist, I really expected no less than a cell for emergency.
    Don't think either is right or wrong, what is the difference if the er called him back or you. Sounds like yours was pretty close to when he called you, er would have woke him up much later!
    ~Carol
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #8
    I would
    assume it was a miscommunication. When I called the on call dr Saturday I had to unblock my phone because I had caller ID. Then the dr called me. They don't want you calling them on their personal lines. As long as you are doing well now, that's what's important. Hope you are feeling better.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #9
    cahjah75 said:

    I would
    assume it was a miscommunication. When I called the on call dr Saturday I had to unblock my phone because I had caller ID. Then the dr called me. They don't want you calling them on their personal lines. As long as you are doing well now, that's what's important. Hope you are feeling better.
    {{hugs}} Char

    that was my feeling also....
    anyone (even those of us without an advanced medical degree) can understand that if you call someone from your cell phone, you've given them your number. if you are not comfortable doing that, you should have the number blocked so they cannot call back.

    The fact that he took the trouble to listen to my message, then call me back and tell me NOT to call him was a bit disturbing...I mean, he's on call, so obviously expecting calls, the answering service would have called him anyway, so what was the difference?

    What is the important point, that you have a chemo patient with a fever and possible low blood counts on the way to the hospital, or that the patient has violated your protocal by calling you back at a number you called her from 15 minutes earlier, rather than calling the answering service, having that answering service call you, and then calling that patient back?

    and what is this "my family may be asleep"? Ummm...excuse me...you are an on-call doctor - have you not made any arrangement to take calls even in the middle of the night without waking up your family?

    I am sure I am overreacting to this incident but it just had such a feeling of being put in my place - "I am the doctor, you are the patient" and the doctor is clearly in a superior position.
    "Be a good patient and do not bother the doctor"!

    I am NOT a good patient - always questioning my doctors and being difficult!

    OK, rant over...

    Laura
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #10
    dbhadra said:

    that was my feeling also....
    anyone (even those of us without an advanced medical degree) can understand that if you call someone from your cell phone, you've given them your number. if you are not comfortable doing that, you should have the number blocked so they cannot call back.

    The fact that he took the trouble to listen to my message, then call me back and tell me NOT to call him was a bit disturbing...I mean, he's on call, so obviously expecting calls, the answering service would have called him anyway, so what was the difference?

    What is the important point, that you have a chemo patient with a fever and possible low blood counts on the way to the hospital, or that the patient has violated your protocal by calling you back at a number you called her from 15 minutes earlier, rather than calling the answering service, having that answering service call you, and then calling that patient back?

    and what is this "my family may be asleep"? Ummm...excuse me...you are an on-call doctor - have you not made any arrangement to take calls even in the middle of the night without waking up your family?

    I am sure I am overreacting to this incident but it just had such a feeling of being put in my place - "I am the doctor, you are the patient" and the doctor is clearly in a superior position.
    "Be a good patient and do not bother the doctor"!

    I am NOT a good patient - always questioning my doctors and being difficult!

    OK, rant over...

    Laura

    rant not quite over...
    this is my last point, I think...is that the fact was that I was scared! This was my first experience with low WBCs and having an infection and I've read about getting life threatening infections while on chemo, having compromised immune system, etc.

    So, I was scared, I called the doctor, I wanted reassurance, or at least advice, and instead what I got was a slap in the face. That is what it felt like to me. I expected the doctor to be caring and concerned about my need as a patient, and instead he was concerned about his need for privacy.

    Oncologists see patients on chemo every day, and for them I'm sure it;s no big deal, but for us it's a big deal! I've never had cancer before, I've never had chemo before and it's often quite scary.

    Laura
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #11
    Hippiechick58 said:

    I can't say for sure but
    I can't say for sure but sounds like a miscommunication to me!

    Dianne

    I agree too, sounds like a
    I agree too, sounds like a miscommunication. You didn't know it was his home that you were caling. Sorry that it happened.


    Hugs, Diane
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #12
    dbhadra said:

    rant not quite over...
    this is my last point, I think...is that the fact was that I was scared! This was my first experience with low WBCs and having an infection and I've read about getting life threatening infections while on chemo, having compromised immune system, etc.

    So, I was scared, I called the doctor, I wanted reassurance, or at least advice, and instead what I got was a slap in the face. That is what it felt like to me. I expected the doctor to be caring and concerned about my need as a patient, and instead he was concerned about his need for privacy.

    Oncologists see patients on chemo every day, and for them I'm sure it;s no big deal, but for us it's a big deal! I've never had cancer before, I've never had chemo before and it's often quite scary.

    Laura

    On principal alone, I'll take your side.
    This dr. most certainly could've handled the situation better. Like, what part of 'on call' doesn't he get?!!

    My wonderful plastic surgeon explained to me a little about this... she was concerned after one of my surgeries and told me if there was a problem that I should go to the ER. And that the ER would call her first thing but that the ER may not alert me to this fact. But that calling her would be the top-most thing they'd do. I did doubt the ER would actually call her but I didn't have any doubts that she believed they would call her. If that makes any sense.

    I, too, think that the dr. should've restricted his number especially as it's a given if you call anyone from your cell that they then have your number.

    It might've been his umpteenth on call patient but it was YOUR first and a little bit of empathy from his side would've gone a long way.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #13
    sbmly53 said:

    The doctor was probably taken aback
    when you called his cell - he would only be expecting the service to contact him. However, he certainly could have been more understanding. And if he feels that way about his cell, he should have the number restricted.

    Sue

    I think the doctor should
    I think the doctor should have been more understanding also. It wasn't like you did something on purpose to upset him. You just needed help. I think he owes you an apology.


    Hugs, Jan
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #14
    dbhadra said:

    that was my feeling also....
    anyone (even those of us without an advanced medical degree) can understand that if you call someone from your cell phone, you've given them your number. if you are not comfortable doing that, you should have the number blocked so they cannot call back.

    The fact that he took the trouble to listen to my message, then call me back and tell me NOT to call him was a bit disturbing...I mean, he's on call, so obviously expecting calls, the answering service would have called him anyway, so what was the difference?

    What is the important point, that you have a chemo patient with a fever and possible low blood counts on the way to the hospital, or that the patient has violated your protocal by calling you back at a number you called her from 15 minutes earlier, rather than calling the answering service, having that answering service call you, and then calling that patient back?

    and what is this "my family may be asleep"? Ummm...excuse me...you are an on-call doctor - have you not made any arrangement to take calls even in the middle of the night without waking up your family?

    I am sure I am overreacting to this incident but it just had such a feeling of being put in my place - "I am the doctor, you are the patient" and the doctor is clearly in a superior position.
    "Be a good patient and do not bother the doctor"!

    I am NOT a good patient - always questioning my doctors and being difficult!

    OK, rant over...

    Laura

    I agree that if he didn't
    I agree that if he didn't want calls to his cellphone, he should have his number blocked. I would have been upset too Laura. I hope that by writing this down, you feel better.


    Hugs to you!

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