“Patient Refused to Cooperate”

I just wanted to share another story of the healthcare system in America failing us…

So, I went into an urgent care to get some lab work, so I could be admitted into a medical stabilization program about a year ago for anorexia. I was at an all time low weight, clearly malnourished, and couldn’t be admitted directly into an inpatient unit before being medically stabilized.

I’m being “interviewed” by the doctor, and she asks me why I am here. I tell her that I have anorexia, and she immediately tells me that I must not eat. I tell her that I eat, and she looks me dead in the eyes, makes a vomiting gesture, and she tells me that I must vomit.

I simply tell her no and that I simply do not eat enough. She then proceeds to ask me how many calories I eat. I responded with x calories, and she tells me that I can’t have an eating disorder. She was extremely dismissive, and at that point, she wasn’t taking me seriously, so I kind of brushed her off.

Then, afterwards, on the patient notes, she said I “refused to cooperate…”

Because you treated me like an idiot when I seriously needed help?!?