Dr. Gordon Mccannel Aamoth, MD

My father underwent a total knee joint replacement. Initial contact with Dr. Aamoth was good. We were warned by Dr. Aamoth that he did not allow home health care. Unfortunately, my father had poor mobility following the surgery and he refused transitional care. Dad was discharged home which included stairs. He was unable to get out of the house due to stair issues. He also was unable to shower by himself. I had to stand in the shower/tub with my father because he was so unsteady though he used a shower chair and could not get in and out of the tub/shower without risking a fall. When I informed the doctor of the issues my father was experiencing at home, especially relative to general mobility and showering issues, Dr. Aamoth said, and I quote, "Why doesn't your dad stand up in the shower like a real man?" This was several years ago and I still have not forgotten it. In my decades of life caring for my aging parents and other family members, I have never, ever, come across a physician such as Dr. Aamoth. My father experienced a depression due to his inability to leave the home for several months except for medical appointments. We eventually switched providers. Dad was ultimately diagnosed with Parkinsonism. This physician had no compassion and was unable to see past the "norm" for him and see that there were other physical issues contributing to my father's immobility.

I went in with muscle spasms in my back, which I have had occasionally over the past eight years. After describing my symptoms and history with upper back pain (being repeatedly cut short by him in the process), he assessed my back for less than 30 seconds, then diagnosed me with adolescent disc disease. (I have since only found information on a condition called "juvenile" disc disorder, and see many contradictions with my symptoms.)His only instructions were to take Aleve, and other than that, there was nothing that could be done. I just had to deal with it, and take Aleve when it got real bad. In 20 years, it might go away, he said. When I suggested a possible connection with certain food allergies (I have made correlations between eating certain foods and experiencing heightened back pain), he disregarded them, saying "it's not in the literature. Orthopaedic medicine does not recognize any connection between back pain and food allergies.") So, just like that, years of my experiences and hypotheses were thrown out as impossible, because "it's not in the literature." With my understanding of his disgnosis far from clear, and with no idea as to what I should do next to help myself recover, he walked out of the room. He never said "any questions?" "good to meet you" or "goodbye." I didn't know if he was coming back or what I was supposed to do. Within 10 seconds, I heard him check in with another patient next door. I eventually wandered out into the hall to find out with the heck I was supposed to be doing or waiting for. I left the appointment feeling discouraged, disempowered, and far more confused and hopeless than when I went in. I DO NOT recommend this doctor.