My Unethical Psychiatrist Broke My Trust (depression, detox, medication, bipolar)

[diegomar2007]

I have fired my psychiatrist after ten years under his care. I received treatment from a community health center. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2012. I was admitted to a college in 2019 for a master's degree and withdrew during the pandemic because of depression and anxiety related to the crisis, leaving a significant debt behind. My psychiatrist wrote a letter to the university, and they forgave the debt.

In 2022 I applied for readmission and got a favorable response with the same financial aid package they granted me before. However, they conditioned my readmission upon submitting a form from my psychiatrist stating that I overcame what prevented me from continuing my studies in 2019.

My psychiatrist was doubtful about completing the form and told me to wait two weeks because he wanted to consult his supervisor. It was mid-May 2022. I followed up in two weeks and received no response. I waited a month and a half until my next appointment with him, the last week of June 2022. He had not completed the form all that time and came to fill it out and send it in a hurry during our short 15-minute appointment. I was relieved.

I contacted the university the next day, and they rejected the form because my doctor did not answer one of the most critical questions. I left a voice message to my doctor to let him know, and his assistant told me later that day that he had sent it with the corrections. But the university told me they did not receive anything.

Honestly, I would have understood if my psychiatrist had openly told me his unwillingness, but he gave me false hopes and submitted a bad-done form last minute. Still, the university says they have not received anything. Of course, because he lied to me.

I already had enough refills for at least five months. So, I canceled all our booked appointments for the rest of the year. His assistant asked me why and I told her I was in the process of finding another psychiatrist without explaining anything else. I got an appointment with a nearby major teaching hospital for September with the best specialists and a department dedicated to researching bipolar disorder.

He called me twice to explain the importance of scheduling a final session, but I didn’t answer his calls. I have already transferred my record to the new hospital. They have urgent care clinics in several locations where I can go in case I need it before September, but that’s just an alternative plan because I have enough refills. The hospital already has my record, and I have access to it through MyChart, the software system used by the world's best healthcare organizations.

The college readmission gave me hope to rebuild my life in a meaningful way beyond the limitations of bipolar disorder. I feel sad and disappointed, but this might be a detour for something better awaiting me.

[southkakkatlantan]

I am sorry to hear about all of this. My questions for you are as follows-

1. You said your psychiatrist had unwillingness to complete the form? How do you know this when the form was indeed actually completed and received? If I understand correctly, it was done and there was just a question that was not answered correctly. Right? Filling out the form and missing one question does not necessarily indicate total unwillingness, but rather indicates willingness with a 'mistake' of overlooking one of the questions. Your thoughts on this?

2. What exactly are you stating the psychiatrist lied to you about?

A ten-year positive relationship with a competent clinical mental health professional can be hard to find. If you truly benefited from their services, I would encourage you to discuss this matter with them. It seems (and I am not trying to 'side' with the psychiatrist here) that you 'might' be a bit upset and not seeing the situation for what it actually is.

I know what it is like to get upset by something a therapist says and wanting to immediately discontinue therapy. I had to really think about all of the possibilities of what was said, including the possibility that I might be misinterpreting things (or that if I wasn't, that what the therapist said could have been 'right' and there was something/s in what they said I needed to consider changing). It's hard. But I urge you to give yourself the opportunity to talk about it with them first before following through on this decision to discontinue treatment with them and picking up all over again with someone new. That within itself can be an exhausting undertaking to have to go through finding another good therapist fit, rehashing details that your current therapist already knows about you, etc. etc.

I wish you the best throughout all of this as I hear your frustration and discouragement. You will get through this though and come out better on the other end - I believe you will be able to continue your education and reach your goals in life. Don't consider this a closed door just yet. It's possible the remaining info was sent and simply lost or somehow not received. Can they resend it? Just provide the one response that was missing quickly to them so they can close out the loop on this item?

I am sorry you are going through this.

[Lillie767]

Based on an earlier postings you made, it appears as if the completion of the form has very little to do with your desire to change doctors.

Originally Posted by diegomar2007

I’m diagnosed with bipolar disorder one and drink frequently. I have been with my psychiatrist for ten years, and he has been helpful when I most have needed it. However, I don’t trust his judgment anymore. He referred me to the emergency room for detox, but I have gone twice and never met the criteria for admission. In other words, I was not clinically intoxicated for detox and was discharged with papers full of instructions but no actual treatment. That means I don’t have a problem with alcohol, but I feel my doctor is pushing me. My therapist at the same clinic made a big deal of my drinking, and I stopped seeing her. I am a very cooperative and committed patient and take my medications as prescribed, but I feel my doctor exaggerates and want to change. How should I start the change? Should I find another doctor and then inform my current doctor, or how should I do it?

Originally Posted by diegomar2007

I saw my psychiatrist of eight years making a scene in a local bar where I visited with friends. He was kissing a woman but like a porn scene. It was a big show. I was next to him, but it seems he was intoxicated or didn't care. I am aware that physicians have their personal lives, but it was at a local bar in a small city. It is not malpractice because he was out of work, but is it not unethical? I told my psychologist, and she sounded in shock. However, I feel her reaction was unsincere and, in the end, maybe warned him because they are co-workers in the same behavioral health department. Am I overreacting?

And another of your recommendation/forms request thwarted.

Originally Posted by diegomar2007

Semester: Fall 2020
School Location: Northeastern United States



I am applying to a school of theology affiliated to a secular university for a Master in Theological Studies (MTS). That degree is for laypeople who want to be leaders in their local churches, activists or those interested in academia. Actually, I am not going to any church but have always wanted to study theology. The degree is not intended for clergy ordination. I chose that particular school of theology because I am gay and the school is actively involved in social justice advocacy like immigration, LGBTQ rights, racism, etc. I am actually involved in affordable housing advocacy against gentrification and displacement.

I needed three letters of recommendation from people familiar with my social activism. They could be from religious or non-religious people. I asked three leaders from the community and they agreed. One of those leaders is a member of a church with a policy very common among many churches of "we love gays, but don't love their sin." I knew that she belongs to that kind of church, but I always felt that she didn't have any problem with my sexual orientation during our work together.

Well, two of the recommenders sent their letters on time before the deadline. The deadline date was on each request. In spite of the fact that I waived my right to see all the letters, both recommenders gave me the chance to know what they wrote before submission. Every time I followed up on the third recommender, she had an excuse like being too busy from work but always assured that she was going to write it.

I followed up the day before the deadline and left a voice mail, but she never replied. I know that people are busy with work and other responsibilities, I know that writing a well-written recommendation takes time and can't be done in a hurry. However, I feel that I gave them enough time. I finally called her the same deadline date and she did not answer. I submitted my application on time with all the components completed, except for her letter.

I contacted the admissions office and they said that as long as the rest of the application is complete, they will grant me an extension until the first Monday of February. Fortunately, I already found another person willing to write the letter and I will follow up diligently as before.

I do not know what to think about this. Could it be possible that she did not do it based on her church's teachings? We have an activity to work together on the second Wednesday of February. It will be a very awkward encounter, not because she did not write the letter but her disappearance. I still wonder what really happened.