I was very disappointed after learning about my mother's recent visit to Dr. Gold. I am a third year medical student, and I was disgusted by the lack of consideration that Dr. Gold displayed to one of his patients. He told my mother to lay down on her stomach, as he was going to remove a mole from the bottom of her foot. My mother nervously proceeded to lay face-down, and obviously could not see what Dr. Gold was doing behind her. Then without any warning, Dr. Gold administered a local anesthetic, by sticking a needle into the bottom of my mother's foot. He did not tell my mother what he was doing. He did not explain to my mother that the procedure would involve the use of a local anesthetic. Instead, he just stuck the needle in and started the procedure. My mother had no idea what was being done to her. Her first thought was that Dr. Gold was slicing the mole off, and that she could feel everything! How could Dr. Gold fail to explain to my mother that he was about to start the procedure (especially since she could not see what was being done)? How could he not tell my mother that the procedure involved an injection of anesthesia, and that she woud feel a sting, which was normal? He failed to do all these things, and did not even tell her how he was going to remove the mole (i.e. using a blade). As a medical student, I have been taught to clearly communicate with all my patients everytime I treat them. I could never imagine performing an outpatient procedure on a patient without clearly explaining how the procedure works. For that matter, I would never start a procedure without notifying the patient first.
I am deeply disappointed that Dr. Gold does not appreciate how vulnerable his patients are, especially with his many years of experience.
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