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DEAR DR. ROACH: I have been doing colonoscopies regularly since 1990. I had a colonoscopy last year, but postponed due to COVID-19. My old doctor had retired and I found another doctor who I thought was excellent.
While on the bed, waiting to be moved to the procedure, the doctor came to sit on one side of the bed. My other half was sitting on the other side. After the doctor had said what he was going to say, he left. My other half asked the nurse if the doctor was drunk. Why, she asked? He was told he was hammering his words and had slightly glassy eyes.
“Oh no, I’m sure he wasn’t drunk,” she said.
At the end of his shift, he informed us both that he had only walked a third of the way, fearing that he would “sting my diverticula and injure me.” What? My former doctor, who had completed seven since 1990, has never had a hard time getting over my diverticula.
After this doctor was finished, he recommended that I have a CT scan of my abdomen and pelvis and repeat a colonoscopy based on the results of the CT scan. I find this very suspicious and I suspect he was just trying to cover up his liability. Based on this information, what is your opinion, please? – Anon.
REPLY: It is very disturbing. Your story contains two points of concern. The first is that your wife noticed that the doctor was hammering his words and not looking properly (“glassy eyes”), which could indeed mean that he was drunk. Looking back, it would have been wiser to decline the procedure at this point, as you had reason to not trust the doctor. However, I admit that it is difficult to do, especially after preparation.
The second problem is that the doctor recommends a CT scan. It’s not a substitute for a colonoscopy, and unless there’s something he saw on the colonoscopy that you didn’t tell me, it doesn’t make much sense on the medical plan.
Although having diverticula makes a colonoscopy a bit riskier, a careful examiner usually has no difficulty getting the endoscope past the area of the colon affected by the diverticula. I am intrigued by his response.
I think this meeting is disturbing enough that I point it out. You have two choices: One is to report it to the hospital where he practices. Most hospitals have a patient service team that responds to such concerns. The second is to report to the state medical board. Either choice should be taken very seriously and lead to an investigation.
There are two sides to every interaction, and a medical column allows only one. Whether or not the doctor provided poor care, he at least communicated poorly and there is enough suspicion that an investigation, which could lead to intervention, is appropriate. While I am sure you will never see this doctor again, you may be able to help future patients.
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Dr Roach regrets not being able to respond to individual letters, but will fit them into the column whenever possible. Readers can email their questions to [email protected] or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
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