Debra Babich, MD

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ 2.0

May 19, 2024

I have to agree, in part, with the respondent above. I found the doctor to be a bit disaffected, but not necessarily aloof,just uninterested in my commentary/opinions during my appointment. I try to be a informed and proactive patient when I visit ANY physician. Therefore, when I ask what may seem to another to be a panoply of questions, it is not me rambling but rather making certain that all my concerns are addressed and I have given the doctor a thorough narrative regarding my past, present, and current reason for the visit.

I have in the past encountered physicians (both my personal physicians and those who I just know casually) who display a sort of intellectual snobbery when dealing with lay persons. Whether this behavior is borne out of feelings of boredom or a sense of superiority/entitlement--it is not appropriate for health care professionals or ANYONE for that matter. And to summarize, that is how I would describe Dr. Babich's demeanor towards me during my sole visit to her office. Mind you, these are interpersonal traits and may not reflect her aptitude as a physician. Regardless, I was made to feel unimportant and MY commentary beyond what she wanted to know from me was a nuisance or a bore. I have heard/read accounts from other patients that did not differ from my own poor/disappointing experience.

I have several years of undergraduate and post graduate education in the life sciences. I am no doctor, nor do I pretend/purport to be. However, I feel that owing to my previous academia and working in health care 10+ years, that I hold an objective and informed knowledge base regarding certain aspects of medicine. Therefore, when I ask a series of systematic questions of the doctor, I am not showing off (I learned LONG ago NOT to do that, no one likes a show-off!) but rather I am trying to cover all topics of concern in succinct and sometimes technical language while maximizing our allotted time during the appointment. I cannot expect her to be able to assess my personality during a 30 minute stint. However, I did not appreciate my narrative being dismissed, nitpicked, or relegated as unimportant. Again, I am quite aware I have no license nor M.D. after my name; though the knowledge base of a physician is ALSO available to a layperson. and reading up on your condition ahead of an appointment does not mean you are trying to brown-nose or one-up the doctor, it i meant to facilitate your encounter.

Walked outta there and never came back, feeling condescended towards and quite small and humiliated. I don't know, that is all I walked away with. She may have been a really excellent physician in her field, but I only retained the negative aspects after it was all over.

Frenk Melk — google_place

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