I am 35 weeks pregnant under subsidised route. Yesterday i went to kkh Delivery suite as i felt that my baby was not moving as much. My husband and i went there to get assured but instead of getting assured, one of the female doctor that treated me was rude and lack of empathy.
When i was escorted to the observation ward, the nurse hooked me up to the machine to check on my baby's heartbeat.
An hour later a female doctor went in without introducing herself and ask if i've felt any movement and when i said i felt a few, she told me that the reason why i did not felt my baby move is because i was using my phone the whole time and baby did not move because i was too busy on my phone. As someone who is having her first baby, i felt that the doctor lacks empathy. How does she know i am using my phone constantly and not be aware of my baby's movements? is there no such thing as multi tasking? The female doctor made me feel as tho she was putting my concerns aside and seems to rush things.
The reason why i was using my phone was to update my husband and sister as i was scared of losing my baby and i was alone in the ward as my husband was not allowed to accompany me.
she also assume that i do not know how to check my baby's movements because of the questions i asked her. When i was asking questions, the could see that the doctor was judging me and her tone for answering my questions was terrible.
As she went out to her desk, i overheard her telling the nurse how i did not check my own baby's movement and i kept using my phone. i do not mind if she wants to talk behind my back but as a doctor it is very unprofessional of her to do so.
As a doctor, it is important to make sure that all your patients feel safe to talk to you and to be heard but all i felt was her judging me for coming to get myself and baby checked as i fear for my unborn baby. The doctors at kkh has always reminded me that if i felt like something is wrong, its better to get it checked but is this the kind of doctor we should be getting? Is these the kind of doctors who should handle heavily pregnant women who is just concern about her pregnancy?
I did not confront the doctor as i do not want to escalade the issue but her actions affected me emotionally.
I came out of the ward crying in fear of losing my baby as i was too worried and how i was treated by the female doctor. I do not know why the female doctor treated me that way. Is it because i am under subsidised and not private? even so, Every patient deserves to be treated fairly as we are paying for the visit, these visits are not free and cheap. I really hope she would improve on how she treats her patients as it really was a bad experience for me and has affected me emotionally.
Desired outcome: Needs doctors who can show empathy to patients
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