Dr Ferg was my OBGYN for the first 3 months of my pregnancy. When my husband and I found out that the baby was healthy, I then decided to meet with a midwife as I wanted a less clinical and more integrated natural approach to my birthing experience. The mid wife assured me that Dr’s and midwives work in a very collaborative setting in Victoria and Dr’s do not get upset with their patients when they decide for themselves what kind of birthing experience they want and switch to a midwife. (This was NOT the case!)
However, at the time this made me feel better as I felt uneasy because i really didn’t want Dr Ferg to feel offended in any way. I decided to keep my next apt which was in 2 weeks time from that day so that I could personally thank her for walking me through the first stressful 3.5 months and explain the switch wasn’t anything personal and it was just that I wanted MY personal birthing experience to take a more natural and integrative approach.The midwife then sent in the requisition form to have my records send to their office.
The following day I started to develop a bladder infection. I tried for 2 days to treat it naturally but I failed to get it under control. I then called The Sitka health center at 9 am to make an apt. The office booked me in with Dr. Ferg for a 1pm appointment. It was made clear that it was concerning a painful bladder infection.
About an hour before my apt I received a call from Dr. Ferg’s Office Admin to inform me that Dr. Ferg would not see me. When I asked why they said it was because I had sent a requisition form to have my medical file transferred to the midwife and that I was therefore no longer her patient. I was absolutely shocked. I asked if they were sure i couldn’t come in and see her quickly and reiterated that i was in pain. They made it clear that she would not see me for any reason, period.
I was suddenly very satisfied with my decision to change Dr’s.
Later that day, after I had been in to see a Dr at a walk-in clinic and had cooled off a bit, I rang the Sitka health center one more time to request that Dr. Ferg please call me back in order to clarify the situation. A few hours later I received a call once again from the office Admin staff informing me that Dr. Ferg would not be calling me back as I was no longer a patient of hers.
I am appalled that a so called medical professional believes that this is appropriate and professional conduct towards an, albeit former patient, still a person who was under her ‘care’.