Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons - Edmonton, Alberta

M H.

Dr. Bruce Ritchie who is a renowned Thrombologist, Hematologist, etc.. only seems to care about money and not his patients. My fiancé who has a rare blood clotting disorder has been dealing with his negligence and poor bedside manner for years. I and my fiancé has spoken with ACOPS a few times and since there is not many other specialists this doctor seems to get away with whatever he wants.
My fiancé is living with blood clots in his left arm very near his lungs, and he mentioned to his family doctor that he would like a new Thrombologist who will actually follow up with him in an suitable amount of time or actually respond to the doctors letters and my fiancés letters. Today when Bruce Ritchie finally called back after months and was an hour late with his phone call, all he seemed to care about was money. Like how he gets money anytime he is contacted through My Health Alberta emails or makes money any time my fiancé is sent for tests "that's where the money is". Many years ago as well my fiancé was going through a depression due to his disease and was unable to keep a job and was telling Dr. Ritchie...and this man had the audacity and lack of empathy to tell my fiancé to suck it up because Dr. Ritchie deals with people with more worse issues than my fiancé. This is outrageous and is not ok. Why are people like Dr. Ritchie allowed to do this. BE BETTER and hold your physicians accountable!!
This Dr. Ritchie is basically gatekeeping at this point in stopping my fiancé getting another Thrombologist/Hematologist so Dr. Ritchie can keep making money off him!!

Rebecca S.

So far I’ve seen 4 doctors who won’t prescribe the narcotic medications I need for my chronic pain but they will sign a MAID (medical assistance in dying) form if my pain gets too bad and it’s affecting my quality of life. Legislation has made it so there’s such a negative stigma attached to prescribing any type of narcotic pain medication that even prescribing death is preferable.

(I have nothing against the MAID program. It just shouldn’t be an alternative to treating people’s pain.)

Ashley T. L.

I am extremely disappointed with the lack of enforcement in women’s health. I have life long Trauma because of the lack of regard for women.
Pain control for Gynaecological procedures should be STANDARD. A patient should have to turn down pain control rather than beg for it.
I called 35 gynos in my area. Not a single one of them takes pain management seriously to the point where I was treated like a burden even call to inquire about what they offer. My own family doctor refused to prescribe me topical single use pain control meds that have worked for my in the past.. this was for a “standard procedure” that shouldn’t hurt… yet there are HOARDS of women on every social media platform talking daily about the pain and suffering we are FORCED to endure during IUD insertions, biopsies, LEEPS, and, colposcopies.

I will never trust a physician again. (Mostly, thankfully the women at grey nuns were amazing and receptive and helpful, unlike any medical professional I had encountered yet in regards to womens health) As a women “ mild discomfort” means searing traumatic pain in all cases. Absolutely horrendous and evil. You are allowing the medical system to abuse and traumatize women. All while we have a female premier in office.
Do better.

Janna K.

They have a very quick elevator.. I maay only visit yearly .. next June..Sunday.. it's worth the wait .. zippy

SS

Patients are always right. Taking the doctor’s side does not resolve anything. Taking 4 months to NOT resolve anything is completely ridiculous. Remember doctors do lie. I can prove that many times.

Jacqueline S.

I have contacted the College numerous times regarding being denied healthcare by family practitioners. I am a chronic pain patient who has been prescribed pain medications. There are no family physicians who will not take me as their patient. There are conflicting policies within the College. On one hand I have been told that no Dr. can deny you because of opioid medications or complex health issues. The physicians say that they have the right to deny you based on their own policy. There is no way that you can obtain a family Dr. in Alberta if you have these problems. There is a strong dislike from the Drs for the Colleges bullying them over every prescription they write. There is too much hand slapping for every little thing they do. The result is they will not prescribe certain medications even though it is needed for the patient. You are no longer seen as an individual but as a collective. The discrimination against pain patients needs to be addressed and solved. The College would like you to file a written complaint everytime you encounter a Dr. that has denied you their care. I would have to file a complaint against every Dr. I have seen.
The practice of meet and greet appointments needs to be abolished for these Drs. somehow think that they are entitled to pick and choose their patients. In this crisis of a lack of family physicians taking new patients all physicians should be required to review their files for patients that are no longer in their care. I am certain that they can find a few spaces for new patients. This extreme measure would only be temporary solution to provide healthcare for all Albertans no matter what problem you may have.

Hillella C.

I encountered a woman who is very unstable driving down a back alley towards my clients house. The woman in the car is Dr Diana Rucker who was viciously screaming and honking her horn at my clients home as I was legally loading my vehicle with materials. This woman was clearly having a melt down and decided to create a dangerous situation threatening to hit my truck. There are clearly two other entrances to get to her home. She gets out of her vehicle, takes pictures of my truck, screaming and flipping me the finger in front of all her neighbors who are scared of her. I’m concerned about this woman treating patients and how she represents not only the faculty but the University of Alberta. I would hope this woman is assessed, not only is she a danger to her community but clearly herself. If this is how she acts around her community I would question her patient care

Heather P.

I am of sick and tired of YOU Doctors making money off Chronically Ill people! I'm sick of YOU doctors who don't accept accountability for the damage you do to patients! You go to school to help people NOT make big pharma money.... Dealing with all my issues I have is literally making me lose my sanity and HAVING ZERO QUALITY IN LIFE, you put animals out of their misery when they are suffering, yet you let people suffer and suffer offering no helpful solutions just more pills to big pharma.... It's all about $$$$$$$$$ not the quality of the patients..... It's disgusting...... Even when my Gyno stood up against what happened to my stomach and how poorly the surgery was done! No accountability.... But it's okay to suffer right, as long as you all get your money from big pharma......