Reviews of Dr. Aron Portnoy (Psychiatrist)

Juliet-Ann McArthur

Dismissive, disorganized, and thoroughly unprofessional. He wanted to put me on antidepressants, I asked if there would be weight gain as I was getting marreid in 8 moths and had already bought my dress, he guaranteed me that any weight gain would be very minor. I gained 40 pounds in 6 months, he refused to believe that I had gained any weight, and when I got on the scale he dismissed me with "well this is actually a very common side effect". On top of this it was impossible to get my patient file from him and I was repeatedly given the run around by him and his staff. A truly horrible experience that has left me scarred.

Zissy Spira

Dr pòtnoy is the best

Matthew

I went to Dr. Portnoy several years ago, was very disappointed. The doctor and secretary try to make it out like he is some very exclusive special doctor, will only see you once if AT ALL. Basically you fill out a little quiz before going in, based on that he tells you you have ADHD and you need to read some books about it, and take some adderall. Says your GP can take over from there. He doesn't do second appointments. So really, he doesn't do much at all. Also he's quite condescending, very much an "I know best, you know nothing mentality." This is really contrary to how mental health conditions need to be treated, and behavioral medication prescribed. Properly tested and conversations needs to happen for diagnosis. Several follow-up appointments need to take place in order to take the right medication and at the right dose, if not ongoing follow-ups. I was told I was *lucky* to be granted a second appointment because the medication was giving me many bad side effects, he just told me to keep taking it. I think Dr Portnoy has the potential to put his patients in danger. If you are in need of diagnosis and medication for a mental health condition, find a better psychiatrist who will: 1. Take the time to get to know you and your unique situation 2. Want to follow up with you overtime to find the right medications that suit your needs and lead to the least side effects.

Simo Chraibi

Very bad experience.

Irfan Rabia

Dr. Aron Portnoy and his secretary are a disgrace to the field of mental health due to their disorganization, poor communication/client management, and respect for their clientele. I called with an inquiry into whether I could take 1 appointment to do a psychiatric evaluation to fill a 1-page form required for my job application Oct 3rd 2018. I was on the verge to be accepted to a job at the Canadian Naval Reserves and just missing a requirement to have a psychiatric evaluation done due to my history in previously having seen a child psychiatrist over 20 years ago as a child. As a newcomer to Montreal unfamiliar with how mental health referrals work in Quebec, I called with an inquiry describing my situation and whether I could have an appointment and was informed by Mena, his secretary, that an appointment was “very likely once Dr. Portnoy looks at the referral forms” -- that all I needed was to bring a referral from my family doctor, and he had spare appointments to give. On Oct 9, I went to my family doctor and got the required referral and faxed it in. I called to confirm the receipt of the fax and I was assured it would be looked at soon — Mena said she would put it on the desk of Dr. Portnoy’s desk to look at soon, that his pile of referral papers was very large, that it would be looked at soon. I called again the week of Oct 15th, to inquire into the status of the fax due to the urgency I needed to confirm an appointment for my job status. Finally the week of Oct 22, Mena returned my call and told me Dr. Portnoy looked at my referral and said the wrong referral form (meant for the CLSC was sent) and that I needed to get a referral specifically addressed to Dr. Portnoy. (This implied that I would be taken as soon as the right form was filled.) So on Oct 22, I immediately took a cancellation appointment with my family doctor again and got a new referral specifically addressed to Dr. Portnoy this time. I immediately faxed that in to Dr. Portnoy’s office. For two weeks from Oct 22 to Nov 5th, I called multiple times and Mena stopped answering the phone. I left messages and no one returned my call conveying that my job prospects were on the line. FINALLY, on the week of Nov 12, over ONE MONTH later, Mena called back and said “sorry Dr Portnoy got the chance to look at your referral now and it looks like he can’t take you for 1 appointment, you have to go to the CLSC, we have forwarded your referral to them”. I returned her call and left an angry voicemail, saying my job offer has been on the line, and got a pathetic voicemail back from Mena denying she ever promised that an appointment with Dr. Portnoy was likely. I expressed that I didn't pursue other alternatives with my referrals since she had created the expectation in our first call how quick Dr. Portnoy would go over his referrals, and getting 1 appointment from him was likely. This behaviour is appalling and a disgrace, and for everyone hoping to have a chance to get the help they deserve, I would strongly recommend to AVOID this office at all costs for the sake of YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING.