Doctor Suspended After Video Captures Her Being Abusive To Patient With Severe Anxiety

Jul 04, 2018 by apost team

In a viral video with millions of Facebook views, a concerned dad captures how a doctor verbally mocked, ridiculed, cursed, and berated and physically manhandled his son at El Camino Hospital in Los Gatos, California.

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There are few experiences more terrifying than being transported to the hospital via ambulance. Few more terrifying than suffering an anxiety attack. Few more terrifying than passing out. And, few more terrifying than being in the hands of an angry and disbelieving doctor selectively applying their oath to “do good or to do no harm.”

Samuel Bardwell experienced all of the above after being transported to the hospital, and it was captured on video by his father.

The 20-year-old West Valley College student had just completed his first summer basketball workout on June 11 when he passed out, experienced an anxiety attack, suffered painful debilitation, and had difficulty inhaling. Bardwell has a history of anxiety attacks and had been taking prescribed Klonopin for treatment, but he had unfortunately been out of his medication for a few days prior to the June 11th attack.

Donald Bardwell used his phone to record what happens after his son, Samuel Bardwell, was transported to El Camino Hospital. After waiting for hours to see Dr. Beth Keegstra, Bardwell’s father begins recording the encounter at his son’s request after they witnessed Dr. Keegstra allegedly talking to a security guard while eyeing Bardwell. The family has since told media outlets in interviews that security was actually present in the room during this encounter.

In the video, both father and son remain calm as they attempt multiple times to explain what happened, symptoms, history, and previous treatments. Dr. Keegstra‘s temperament and bedside manner can be described as nothing short of angry, disbelieving, mocking, and unprofessional.

The video begins with Dr. Keegstra stating that Bardwell looks fine now despite his attempts to explain what happened earlier and his current state of distress. When the patient and father point out that leaving the hospital would result in another attack and the patient points out that he’d waited four hours to see her, she then leans over him and gruffly replies that he was the least sick of all the other patients, whom she referred to as “dying.”

Eventually, Dr. Keegstra is seen yanking Bardwell’s arm as she demands he “sit up” because she observes that he can move his hands and head as he is conversing with her and thereby must be able to sit up. He repeatedly tells her that he can’t sit up as she argues he can and makes snide remarks. When Bardwell explains that he can’t inhale, Dr. Keegstra loudly laughs and tells someone off camera that he “must be dead” before she turns to the patient and asks him directly, “are you dead, sir?”

At one point, Dr. Keegstra asks Bardwell if he wants narcotics. He declines and asks for anxiety and pain medication. She goes on to accuse him of “changing his story,” drops the f-bomb in arguing her point, and says that he has pissed her off. Dr. Keegstra abruptly concludes her exam and can be heard ordering IV fluids and telling someone off camera that the fluids are what Bardwell says he needs because he thinks he’s a doctor.

The hospital reports that testing after the video showed Bardwell was dehydrated and that he was eventually given pain and anxiety medications before leaving the hospital.

A spokesman for the hospital has also stated that Dr. Keegstra was a contract doctor and has since been removed from ER rotation due to the unprofessional interaction the entire video shows:

Did you watch the video? What should happen to this doctor? Do you suffer anxiety attacks and find that others, even medical professionals, are disbelieving and uncaring?

Tell us your thoughts and be sure to show this video to your friends and family to start a discussion.