I haven’t written in a while, things have been crazy! However, this event, is incredibly crazy.
I was pretty happy with my new primary care physician, things were going mostly well. The doctor’s office sent an email directing me to login to the medical portal and view the test results.
I logged in to my PCP’s “medical portal”, provided by Athena Health. Upon logging in, I noticed Marijuana user in my list of diagnoses. While I don’t care who does or does not use Marijuana, my doctor got this inexplicably ALL WRONG!
I self reported to my doctor that I was using CBD/Delta 8 to help with my pain. Apparently the fact that I used CBD/Delta 8 products to help myself offended him in some way?
You see, Delta 8 & CBD are legal, even here in Georgia, and were a great option for me to help with my pain.
The BIG problem here is that Delta 8 & CBD are NOT Marijuana. So, I contacted the doctor via the Athena health app. I explained that I did not report I used Marijuana. I further explained that I told the nurse that I use Delta 8 & CBD, not Marijuana. He responded that it was “a difference without distinction”.
So, while I am no scientist, I’m sure there is a wealth of differences chemically, biologically etc. I mean they are completely different plants even. However, the important distinction for me, pointed out to him when I answered was simple… Delta 8 & CBD are legal in Georgia whilst Marijuana is not.
He outright refused to change my medical record. In fact, falsifying a medical record is a crime punishable by a fine or even jail time. I tried again to explain to him in a note through his portal. I guess I figured he was ignorant to the actual difference and if I provided some information he would surely see his mistake & resolve it.
The answer….. He deactivated my Athena Health portal account. Didn’t tell me, just deactivated it. I suspect I didn’t know it was deactivated for some time. Until, his office was sent me emails about my results to view in the portal. So obviously, I went to login and check as the doctor’s office directed in the email.
Upon logging in, I was simply logged back out everytime. Now, I dabble in web programming, so I loaded the Athena Health website portal login into my console. When running the function by logging in I saw the successful login, then page redirect & finally logged out. Figured it was broken.
I called the office, the staff could not figure out why I couldn’t login. She offered to look in to it and call me back.
After 2 weeks with no call back. I went to the office with my neighbor, who had an appointment, to check on these items I had results for. At the front desk, the staff member could not figure out why I was deactivated. She couldn’t/wouldn’t even retrieve the messages pending & print them for me. I was not notified in any way of this deactivation in any way.
Then, on 4/25/2024 I received the following certified postal letter from the doctor.
Apparently this letter took 6 days to be delivered 20 miles. So for this time I was without a PCP completely.
Some points regarding this letter:
- THC is NOT illegal in Georgia.
- They left me 6 days without a doctor, even after pointing out my medical condition requiring continuing physician supervision.
So I called the office and requested that they ready my records for me to pick up. I would have to quickly research & find another doctor. Mind you, when I came to them initially I brought paper copies of all my records to them, which they kept. However, the office refused to ready them for me unless I paid them $30. So, I found a new doctor as quick as possible and had them transferred. Even though it’s pretty shitty to fire me as a patient and not even return the paper records I hand delivered to them without charging me a fee.
Finding a new doctor took a hot minute, because my illness is complicated. In the interim, my drop foot got me in the driveway & I went down hard on 4/23/24. I went to the ER, had a very bruised sternum & broken wrist. I was treated in the ER, but I still didn’t know I didn’t have a doctor! Good thing I didn’t need him for this.
This doctor has acted illegally, broken his oath and is an incompetent doctor. I reported him to the medical board & filed a grievance with Humana. I don’t think anything was done…. Clearly my rights don’t matter.
Then months later (6/27/24), after I have gotten a new doctor & everything squared away… This incompetent doctor sends me another email…..
He seriously sent me a message that may “may include information about your care plan, test results, medicines or other important information”…. but my Athena health account is DEACTIVATED! Still, I checked.
Love to hear any suggestions you may have… I am so mad. I have been discriminated against, lied about and generally mistreated by this “doctor” who has broken the law and fully failed me in my medical care.
If you have ASD or have children with ASD be very careful choosing a doctor, especially if they are otherwise medically complicated. There are CLEARLY some real incompetent doctors out there. I would venture to say immoral, but I am not the entity meant to judge humans. Maybe some doctors as humans are just not capable of handling anything difficult… Maybe he only wants easy patients for easy money. I don’t know.