Fed up with stupid doctors.

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Not too off topic, NocturnalQuilter & others..... I had the unthinkable happen with a counselor and I really never reveal what happened - it hurts. Right now I would ask those who post to please be sensitive with what I am revealing, which is relevant, and is a direct example of seriously bad ethical behavior to those in the neuro/psych profession.

This last summer I briefly went to a Community Mental Health Center but I just needed my necessary meds refilled/updated (I am mildly seizure prone with required meds and I don't like taking medicine). I am a feminine female, heterosexual, and very shy...and a HFA, by Dx. The intake counselor, whom I had never met before, spent an inordinate amount of time asking me question, after question, after question....I responded, with all candor, in writing for me (I mostly write, not speak). I (naively) thought she was being nice to me. Thorough, and trying to understand my unique condition. Anyway, I did fill out the requisite paperwork, as always. I just needed a doctor to prescribe but had to go through the painstakingly involved paperwork process and interview by this counselor.

The intake counselor asked for my email address. I gave this to her readily and agreed this would be a good idea since I prefer to write if I have a request, rather than phone. To reveal, I was having real problems with my sleep too and this needed to be addressed at the Center.

Immediately thereafter that intake counselor (female) began innundating me with highly inappropriate emails. First I just got emails saying, for example, "Are you in bed yet?" She told me way too much about herself and I did NOT respond - she is a lesbian (that's fine - no problem whatsoever) EXCEPT this is totally unprofessional and way too revealing! I don't need to know, nor do I care.

I didn't know what to do and told no one. Then the worst: She called me at my apartment. I was home alone, of course, studying/reviewing at ~ 10 pm on a Sunday evening. I was SHOCKED. This woman asked me for sex. Whilst propositioning me from her cell phone at a nearby local bar she was actually ordering a drink from the bartender, and clearly intoxicated. She used some explicit anatomical words to ask me for sex althogh knowing I was NOT interested and I am heterosexual! I knew the bar she was calling from (this is a relatively small Alaskan town) and it was literally right behind my apartment. She then said, "I know the hottie that lives at <insert my apartment address here>." This is sick, and very scary.

I called then called a trusted and respected friend (from University), crying, and was able to tell him what happened.

This counselor was fired, ultimately. Her behavior is sick, unethical, and beyond unprofessional. One of the emails she sent was downright SCARY. I found, later, from Adult Protective Services, she was taken to a drug rehab facility. The police were good to me and did take this matter seriously and this is regarded as stalking and harassment and this is criminal behavior on her part. I am extraordinarily leery of any neuro/psych professional, and this one reason.

So please be aware that medical/therapeutic is real, and potentially dangerous. As an autistic female, alone, I do need protection. I guess I would advise anyone - be cautious about what you reveal. I just had completed basic paperwork at an agency.......also, don't discount that a professional really can hurt and they're certainly NOT immune from being really disturbed or deranged! This does need to be taken seriously.

Now you know. I have been hurt, hurt, hurt......X (10 ^ (1/0)).

^
It's terrifying how the sexual imperative can override not just regard for the patient, but even basic self-preservation and horse sense. Sounds like you found a female counterpart of Freud. And drug abuse in both cases. Well done for blowing the whistle. You were stronger than she was.

What a very disturbing incident LabPet.

What completely and utterly insane, and frankly perverted conduct on the part of this woman. How very scary for you! I really do not know what to say. Thanks for sharing something so obviously sensitive. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Yes, but you can't very well say we were looking for some of the treatment we received. LabPet's experience, for one, was certainly not something she only perceived to be negative; and I didn't ask to be overmedicated and misdiagnosed--objectively, not subjectively, at least if several psychologists I've talked to since have any right to their opinions.

Most of what I've had to deal with is not cruelty or outright exploitation. It's simply the result of what happens when you place normal, unthinking, prejudiced human beings in positions of power over people they believe are weak or inferior.

I've had a few good experiences with the mental health profession; but so far, it's been about 75/25 in favor of either a negative or useless experience.

I don't think it's got much to do with what you're looking for. Mistakes are mistakes, and we're not talking about the wrong colour tie, we're talking about misdiagnosis, sexual harrassment, blatant disinterest in how the patient feels.......not much option but to be vigilant.

Macbeth: You have posed an excellent querry - why? You're precisely right - there is a pervasive discrepency between those with Autism (whatever form/level) and many (NOT all!) in the neuro/psych profession. I think particularly if one lives in a smaller community, such as myself. Part of the problem is that many neuro/psych professions are just not equipped or educated as to one who has a different mind-set, which a different neurology. They're taught to treat those 'normal' brains who have problems, but what about those who aren't Neurotypical?

Autists can be psychologically fragile and many/most at some time do need 'outside' help - just a statistical reality. But professionals are in a quandry and their misconceptions make this painfully worse. But we have a part too! True, Autists do (mostly) uniformally have communication difficulties, even with just speaking, and this is a component too.

As I stated, one counselor (didn't stay with her long - she was nice, but clueless) actually thought 1 in 6 individuals in the general population are autistic (no). She had NO IDEA (not kidding) Asperger's Syndrome was even remotely related to autism - shameful. She was an older woman and likely had NO training or understanding of autism/AS.

One male (PsyD) kept insisting I have insomnia (NO, I technically do NOT, but I do have another sleep disorder - a circadian cycle problem and sleepwalking disorder (by Dx, previously) - this is real and presents problems). His STUPID advice (note: I am a chemist and neuroscientist so, yes, I do know): Take an OTC sleeping pill every night. No, no, and more no. This is contraindicated with my prescribed mild anti-seizure meds and just ridiculous. Yes, I knew to NOT take his advice and this man is NOT a medical doctor and has no business suggesting to his patients what medicine they should take. BUT....what if another Autist didn't know, and took this advice? That's a problem, and a potentially dangerous problem. Plus, OTC sleeping are NOT ever indicated to take every night consistently; they can be addictive. Just stupid advice and he ought to know better.

The dangerous part: A medical professional can do REAL damage and we can be quite vulnerable. The damage is very real. And they can be bullies; teasing and taunting. For those who've had positive experiences - fine. But please recognize there can be SCARY and reckless 'professionals' out there too who are NOT monitored and have sense of propriety! As in all professionals, some are good. But in this category there are those who are misinformed too.

Hopefully these 'professionals' can be taught current, science-based methodology, without the bias. And perhaps how to communicate with one who just doesn't communicate very well. Also, I am personally lousy at expressing what I might be feeling....just cannot. I lack the words. Admittedly, this could be a pain for a counselor who is accustomed to a more chatty/emotive NT who might just need basic counseling - nothing specialized.

Lab Pet is the Therapist Slayer for a reason.

LabPet- So what are you saying?
All doctors are out to get you?
1 in 2 doctors are idiots?
1 in 3?
Maybe 1 in 4?
What statistics are you basing this on?
Can you site sources for your rather broad-sweeping accusation?

Sounds like a lot of crap to me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/us/19 ... yt&emc=rss

I would encourage you all to just look at this newsarticle - it's really short. This female patient is NT, of course, and was seeking just basic (physical) medical care - easy enough, yes? Instead, this talented lady had her arm amputated which meant the loss of her professional career and identity too (she was a professional musician).

Disclaimer: YES, there are certainly good and caring doctors who are conscientious (and the above incident would never have happened). But the danger lies in those who are are either careless/reckless....or worse.

I feel really badly for this lady. But most 'professionals' are NEVER held accountable, which exacerabates the problem.