The Consumer Complaints Blog

The girl that did my first set of exams seemed like someone that had been pulled off the street; she was nice, but not very professional and seemed like she wanted to just get me in and out of there asap. After that first set of exams had been completed, she told me to have a seat in the waiting area so she could “finish filling out my chart.” I had no idea what that meant, but whatever. So I sat down. Texted a friend at 3:28. Then waited. And waited. And waited.

Finally, someone came and called me in for another set of exams. I asked her what time she thought I would be done by, as I only had a 2 hour time limit on my parking. She told me that I should go and plug the meter again, I would still be another 30-45 minutes. I check the time.

4:12!!!! They made me wait over 40 minutes before I was called in. Had someone let me know that I’d be waiting that long, I would have plugged my meter while I was waiting. This office is on the 20th floor of this building! Not impressed.

I got back and asked if there was always this long of a wait in between exams. She says no. ” Today, one of the girls had to go home early because her mother was sick.” Fair enough. But there was no apology. I was very irritated.

Then I went to see one last girl to talk about pricing. She gave me her schpeel. Then asked if I wanted to book my appointment. I said that I had to think about it, as I was not impressed by the service I had received. She apologized for the situation, and told me that if I do decide to go ahead with the surgery, the price she had quoted me was guaranteed for 6 weeks. That did not sound right to me and I grilled her with questions. She proceeded to explain to me that prices always change due to advances in technology, equipment, etc. Prices just went up last week, she says, and also last March. I told her that it did not make sense to me. She excused herself and returned with another woman.

“Hi Vanessa, I understand that you have concerns about the cost?”

I told her that I didn’t understand why the price would go up after 6 weeks. Before I could finish what I was saying, she interrupted me and said “No, that is not what she said.”

NOW i’m angry. You weren’t even there, do not tell me what was and was not said.

Basically, she told me that what the girl was trying to say was that the price I was given was MY price. That is what is written in my chart, so it is my price. I can call and book in December if I wanted to, and it would still be the same price. Ok, my bad. I apparently need laser ear surgery, too? Whatever.

Then I say that I was told prices change because of technology and equipment. Apparently, I got that wrong, too. Cost is based on prescription, she says, not technology and equipment. Gee, I wonder where I got that from?

Then she goes on to to tell me that she had heard about my long wait. She apologized, but said that I, as a hygienist, should know how it is: some patients just have a milllllion questions and you don’t want to rush them out. And that was exactly what had happened today: the 2 patients before me just had a ton of questions. Yes, I say, I know it happens, but I also almost always let my patients know when I am running behind to let them know that I haven’t forgotten about them, WITH an apology.

“Oh! Nobody came to you? Well, I will have to talk to the girl up front for you.”

Sure you will.

These people clearly have no idea what they are doing or what they are talking about. They can’t even keep their stories straight about what goes on in that office or what to tell people when they’re pissed. The truth is usually the best way to go. But not to them, apparently.

They will NEVER receive my business.

Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.

There has been a lot of controversy lately regarding government waste in the eHealth Scandal. According the the CBC, over 1 billion dollars was wasted through shady tactics and backdoor deals. But at Penciltrick we’ve uncovered a different kind of flagrant waste of public funds being performed not by consultants but by the very people we entrust to work the system and take care of our family’s health.

The next time you’re waiting 5+ hours in the emergency room you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that the patients in front of you are using your tax dollars to pay for larger breasts, flatter stomachs and tighter asses. Really, is it any wonder our hospitals are so understaffed and in such poor shape?

During our observation of an ongoing hearing of a Toronto physician at The Collage of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario we were absolutely flabbergasted to hear the testimony of Doctor John Craig Fielding admitting that he charges OHIP for consultations regarding liposuction. That’s right. Not life saving procedures or even reconstructive surgeries but removing blubber from some fat ass. I for one am absolutely disgusted that I work every day and pay my taxes just so plastic surgeons like Dr. Fielding can take my hard earned money to suck fat out of someone’s abdomen, flanks and thighs.

In the hearing and under oath Dr. Fielding was asked if he charged the Ontario Health Insurance Plan for examining a patient for a liposuction procedure. After evading the question for a while he was asked to call his administrator and confirm how the patient was charged. His reply was:

“The initial consultation on January 26th was billed to the Ministry of Health.“

(cue scratching record sound)

OHIP Insurance Fraud With No Consequences

Hold on a minute. So a patient goes in and says she has fat legs and wants lipostuction. Dr. Fielding examines her and then conveniently uses our tax dollars to cover the consultation and pay for his cottage? How is that not clear and blatant insurance fraud? This is a man who teaches other doctors and works at St. Joseph Hospital . What exactly are these young doctors learning from this man? How to cheat OHIP? How to perform surgeries that are purely for cosmetic reasons using the public purse?

On their own site the Ontario government clearly states:

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care pays for a wide range of services, however, it does not pay for services that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery.

What else are these plastic surgeons billing to OHIP? How many of them are doing this every single day in this province?

So what was the result of this admission on November 3, 2009? Absolutely nothing! Dr. Fielding is not being investigated. (why should he when he is the lead witness for the very college that is supposed to be policing him). He has not been charged with defrauding our government and the public that is supporting him. He is still working at St. Joseph Hospital. Apparently they’re okay with having this “doctor” teaching their interns and ripping us all off by charging OHIP and lining his own pockets. Wouldn’t it be nice if your own insurance company was so agreeable if you stole your own car stereo and then claimed it from your plan?

Think About It The Next Time You Or Someone You Know Is In The Hospital

So this is all well and good but what does this mean for Ontario? It’s simple. It means that if you have to take an ambulance in this province it’s going to cost you a minimum of $45. But if you need to consult with Dr. John Craig Fielding of St. Joseph Hospital to palpate your gluteal fat, you won’t have to pay a penny. The rest of us dumb slobs working a job in Ontario will take care of it for you.

There are probably millions if not tens of millions of dollars and more being wasted on these unapproved cosmetic procedures by plastic surgeons with absolutely no consequences. The politicians don’t seem to care. The media don’t seem to give a crap and apparently St. Joseph Hospital and The College Of Physicians and Surgeons are happy to pay people like Dr. Fielding for services rendered and won’t do anything about it.

I had the misfortune of watching my mother in the hospital recently and pleading with the nurses and doctors to try and get her a new mattress because the one she was on was basically garbage and causing her more harm than good. They didn’t have any available.

How many of these consultations are being charged to OHIP by Plastic Surgeons and other medical professionals? How many breasts have the people of Ontario paid for? How many vaccines, beds and nurses could we have paid for if this money wasn’t being stolen from us? I don’t know. All that I can do is report what we’ve found. I can only hope that a politician or prominent reporter is willing to take it from here and actually make a difference to our healthcare system.

While we’re busy paying for unnecessary, irrelevant and expensive cosmetic procedures, our friends down south are actually acting more sensibly then us for a change and proposing a 5% “Botax” on cosmetic surgery.

The beauty of all this? If someone investigated and got back all this money, not only would it not cost the taxpayers and government anymore money, we would actually take back what was rightfully ours and start putting our healthcare system on a path of better efficiency and accountability. Never mind the money that was already stolen. How about stopping this theft moving forward as a start. That would make a huge difference to our budget immediately. Any takers?

And both the College and St. Joseph Hospital should be ashamed and embarrassed that they are allowing this man who has admitted to illegally charging OHIP for cosmetic procedures under oath to continually defraud the public.