Saw him in the office 3 times because I live close. Definitely would not come from across the country. I am a health care
professional, and he attempted to push me into studies I was not interested in after risks discussed. One of drugs carried risks of death with weird virus causing movement disorder. Side effect RARE - but no thanks! Clearly he had ego involved in wanting to publish this.
Does not respect the importance of patient's role in making decisions within the context of informed consent. Did not even fully explain to me the role of clinic during first visit, so I walked out thinking this was just a study office. What does this place DO????? But then I came back asking him if he would treat me. He was very tentative. So peculiar!!! Then gave me drug without explaining to me that it has major side-effects. Both antivirals made me very ill, putting me in jeopardy. (That's all I'll say --- circumstances too embarassing and distressing!!) Informed consent, with stress on "informed" is very important in practice of medicine. But I wanted to believe in him and meds, and then everything would be better, right? I could go back to work, right? WRONG. Gave me prescription for Famvir of 3 grams four times day, which is a grossly HIGH dosage. I could not tolerate even 1/2 tab tid. When I had difficulty, he did not report drug reactions to pharmaceutical company --- I had to do that.
Not sure of circumstanes, but 72 year old physician friend with CFS died after he began self-medicating with antivirals. My friend, a distinguished NASA pilot and graduate of Air Force Academy died of MI. Was it related to high dose antivirals? Unknown.
He contradicted himself without explanation on numerous occasions, saying, "no, no Ampligen," then "Yes, ampligen." He was very judgmental on other doctors prescribing Fentanyl for severe migraine pain (24/7) --- and discussion made it clear that HE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S MEDICAL BOARD VIEW OF ADMINISTRATION OF PAIN MEDS. I would not want to be his patient vis a vis pain meds because you would be undermedicated and in misery, and then all he would say, coldly, is that he can't prescribe a narcotic (false).
He wanted me to switch to Lyrica --- and I did take Lyrica 100 mg tid but Lyrica made me very sick, ironically, with increased pain.
Then at the end of our relationship, he declined to submit papers for second opinion. I thought I should try for second opinion with clinical virologist. Again, crazy making behavior - where he would say, "no," then "Yes, "then "No. Always concerned, he seemed that "he knows those people." ie., didn't want to be embarassed by colleaguge not agreeing or finding his knowlegebase shallow. I am worried he will sabotage request.
Dr. K is working on other things - so perhaps he would get high marks from me for his work on whatever else he is working on - but as a clinician, I'd give him a "D." Would encourage him to put up "Suggestion Box" in waiting room" so he can learn what patients need and expect. He has not received proper mentoring on how to work in private practice context.
When he drew my blood, I never got copy of lab report. And, I didn't get medical records ultimately until I threatened to report him to Medical Board for failure to "allow" me to take records for second opinion. Then he denied that happened. But I question that because how could his office staff get that wrong twice - by 2 different people? Office is bizzare trip. Unclear why he is interested in seeing CFS patients. He does not appear to have any special virology experience that he referenced --- either working with HIV patients, or with transplant patients.
My eyes opened up by reading posts by individuals such as Jasper, and I feel like fool. But I am too often Bambi, and then discover I've been had. And then after you've been "Bambi," it's exhausting to switch to play the "B*tch" to get what you need --- it's emotionally exhausting. Dealing with craziness of Dr. K's office was very emotionally exhausting, and it's still not over. Regarding "second opinion" issue, he kept saying that he "knows those people," which made me think he anticipated being embarassed by patient taking second opinion request to that institution. I also feared he would try to sabotage the request, or my relationship with whomever I might be hooked up with at that institution --- or the ID virologist at that institution whom I do know and like very much.
He ignored my time frame for the appeal for second opinion, which has screwed up my apartment lease (I was planning move back to another State) when his office seems virtually empty. Doesn't seem to care if he adversely affects you or your life. Arrogance + ignorance.
Although Stanford has high ratings, I have often found Stanford docs not as smart or compassionate as docs at UCSF, or docs who have trained other places.
The one positive thing I can say is that he responds by email fairly swiftly. But, an odd way to keep medical records, and susceptible to manipulation. Easy to delete. Most doctors, of course, require message to go through staff, and there is official record.
Be careful if you go; might be good idea to bring friend so he can't claim he didn't say that. Take your own notes after appointment. Psychological abuse typically occurs in private, so open up interview process by bringing witness to the "Open Medicine Institute."
Sad, office is disappointing because we all want it to be successful, and beyond.
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Sleep problems? --- would highly recommend Alex Clerk, MD in San Jose at O'Connor Hospital. Don't overstate issues of CFS, but let him do workup. I've found him to be very compassionate, knowledgeable. Have never had bad experience
over multiple visits. Staff also very kind, and competent. Would give high marks to everyone there.
