Supervision Needed

When Rob had a stroke, at age 48, related to his melanoma, I had to fight the medical system for him to be granted an appointment to go and see a neurologist. Apparently, because he was big, charming, and still had enough physical strength to squeeze their fingers, he was not high on their list of concerns.

We finally got an appointment at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener. I was just happy that we were going to see someone and get some direction.

Rob’s memory and personality were greatly affected but that is not something that a doctor that he had never met would notice.

He asked Rob if he had any concerns. At this point, his mind was still not what it should have been and the only question that HE had for the doctor (although I had an extensive list) was “When can I go back to hockey?”

The doctor’s answer was, “Whenever you feel like it”.

RIDICULOUS because in Rob’s mind, that meant … next week!

We left and I did not have a good feeling about the doctor but we had another brain scan scheduled and I wanted to book a follow up appointment with him to discuss the results and next steps.

When we arrived about 6 weeks later, there was a sign in the examination room, right beside an inconspicuous woman, sitting silently in the corner, saying that the doctor could not be with patients alone, without supervision.

Unrelated to the sign, I think, I still was not impressed with the doctor and the lack of information that he gave us during the appointment and we left VERY discouraged!

Actually, I was more discouraged than Rob. He was just happy to have permission to get back on the ice and return to work. If it were me, on the other hand, I would prefer a doctor’s note demanding that my ass not leave the couch and that I definitely cannot return to work!

To each his own, I guess.

That was our last visit with this doctor and I got a referral to a memory specialist in London who helped us out a little on our journey back to Rob’s pre-stroke self.

BUT… since then, Dr Sloka has been charged with 76 offences connected to separate sexual assaults against female patients in Waterloo Region and I believe he is currently in prison!

Do we know how to pick our doctors or what?

Lesson Learned? : If you are not comfortable with a doctor, or with something that your doctor is telling you, DEMAND a second opinion or a new doctor.