Dr. Brett Michael Carswell, MD

I had a very bad experience. I had a cystoscope he didn’t talk to me came in the room shoved the tube in me I screamed in pain he didn’t stop just pushed and pushed. Once the procedure was done walked out of the room. I asked the nurse to speak with him I had questions..he couldn’t be bothered. I am in pain one week later. Never again will I let him near me....I feel violated.

Something is really wrong with this guy. Was sent to him because I had Kidney stones.He said I needed surgery, and then spent ten or twelve minutes explaining how he likes performing this "neat little surgery" NO mention of recovery time, possible complications, pain management, follow-up, etc., so I was left with impression this was like day surgery; no big deal. When I ever looked online and saw all of the negative reviews, I was really in shock, but the woman who scheduled my appointment assured me he was really a nice guy and a good surgeon. So 2 days before the surgery, I get a call from the Hospital Coordinator as well as a brochure in tthe mail, and I was in shock. Turns out, this is like major surgery! AUrine tube, a stent, follow-up appointments, activity restrictions, etc. I am elderly, and no stranger to surgery, and with the exception of an emergency surgery, all this stuff was usually covered at intake appt.; checksheets to initial, handouts to review, waivers to sign,… and so on. What a sloppy way to do business! At any rate, I cancelled. I had already purchased plane tickets to visit my grandkids, and had plans to go to Water Country the following week. With much trepidation, I rescheduled. During the following weeks, I did some research on this procedure, and found out that it is very painful, with much of the problem being that stent thing. I tried to call his office when I returned from my trip only to find there was nobody there who could answer my questions; everyone was apparently on vacation. So now it's the week of my surgery, (Friday), still no call back. so I called yet again, and they had some clerk call me back, who couldn't answer my questions. Finally, I get the nurse practitioner, who did explain to me where exactly the stent was placed. My anxiety was not eased; I couldn't bear the discomfort of a catheter for a few hours after surgery, how was I going to deal with this stent thing for two weeks? I wanted to communicate with the Dr. to find out if there were alternatives, or if I could get that stent out sooner, as indicated in the brochure. "Can I speak with the Dr.?" "No." "Can I Get an appt. with him?" "No" "Does he have call hours?" "No" "Can you question him for me?" "No" "can I get a message to him?" "No." The usual Reliant roadblock! Anyway I called the surgery schedule person to cancel, and once again She convinced me not to (how many times has this poor thing had to deal with stuff like this), She said she would have the Dr. get back to me. Well, when he didn't call back that afternoon, I called the hospital and cancelled. Lo and behold, bright and early next morning, Dr Carswell called. I tried to explain my fears to him, but he just didn't get it. "Well, how about if we send you home with a urine tube and a stent?" "What, how does that make it any better?" "Well, a stent is gonna come out when it's ready to come out." "And how is that going to help me, when my follow up appt. is 15 days out. What if I cant bear the pain? I know from lengthy experience how difficult it is to get in touch with a Dr. at Reliant Specialties". Well, a stent is going to come out when it's ready to come out" "What? And what's that I have read in numerous reviews that you send people to the Emergency Room for pain medication?" "Well, you're probably not going to need pain medication, so you won't have to go to the Emergency Room." Yikes, so it was true. I thought these people were just mad because they couldn't get another refill, or something. Now, I want to thank them for giving me a heads up. Perhaps I wont need it, But from all I've read, and from someone I spoke to who had this done, I sincerely doubt it. I can just picture it now, the day after surgery, sitting in a Emergency Room for 5 or 6 hours, in pain from the having my kidney dug out and two tubes sticking out of my body, peeing on myself,because after 40 trips to the bathroom, I no longer Know whether the terrible cramps in my bladder are for real or not. This guy just doesn't get it. Most surgeons understand that patients facing surgery are anxious and fearful; afraid that something will go wrong, and afraid of being in unbearable pain. i am used to being told by surgeons that while they may not be able to prevent all pain, they will do the best they can to make you comfortable, and true to their word, that's exactly what happened. And finally, when I spoke to the girl in scheduling, to confirm my cancellation, she was surprised. Doctor Carswell had told her he straightened it all out with me. That just goes to show you how out of touch he really is.

Dr. Carswell was not "present" in our brief meeting. He showed no interest and offered no awareness of my condition--which condition- I guess I'm expected to live with. He verbalized my age (88) as he peeked at my record, and mumbled something about difficulty with anesthesia even though he failed to go over what treatment- if any- could apply to my situation. This meeting was not to the standards of the Reliant Medical Group.

Dr. Carswell was not "present" in our brief meeting. He showed no interest and offered no awareness of my condition--which condition- I guess I'm expected to live with. He verbalized my age (88) as he peeked at my record, and mumbled something about difficulty with anesthesia even though he failed to go over what treatment- if any- could apply to my situation. This meeting was not to the standards of the Reliant Medical Group.

Doctors, NP’s, LPN’s and MA’s should have to deal with the Pain they expect us to. Rude, uncaring, rather discuss topics instead of issues. Chief of Urology? Needs to go back to school. Ease of getting an appointment? Wait, wait, wait. First encounter, fine. Subsequent ones? Yea Right. Need more Urologists so you don’t have to stay with a bad one. I wasted months and never got a diagnosis. Wouldn’t you think a urologist could diagnose a kidney stone??? Not him. No way. No how. BEWARE. 5 ER trips. 4 ultrasounds. Seems like they make us wait and insurance companies benefit.

I was not believed. Told to go to the ER. Upon examination, oh well. Medication raised to an intolerable amount. Wouldn’t take my dog to him. NP and MA’s not even close to showing compassion. Upon reading an operative report it said I was informed of possible stroke, infection, future surgery and so on. My wife was with me and I was told Nothing. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. 3.6 rating for a reason. I would give negative numbers.

I’ve been battling a chronic issue for several months. I wasted another three months with Dr Carswell and one NP. Must now find another to help relieve the pain I’ve been having. My first experience with him was positive. The second, much less than acceptable. Doctors should experience the pain the patient puts up with.

My mother had bladder cancer, and was put in Dr Carswell's care when her urologist Dr Khan left St Vincent's. My family found he was not as compassionate and caring as he should be with an elderly woman. When Dr Khan put a stent in one of my mother's kidneys, she made sure my mother was put out under sedation for this. When Dr Carswell later had to do the same procedure, he did not sedate her and she was in agony with pain. Our family thought when she was called into a room it was to prepare her for sedation, if we had known he was being so inconsiderate , we would have opened the procedure door and insisted he sedate her instead of letting her suffer the pain and discomfort of inserting the stent. For this reason I would not send anyone to him with advanced bladder cancer. My grandson and I both need urology care now, but we are not going to him.

Dr. Carswell has been very attentive, patient and thorough while diagnosing and explaining my medical issue. He exudes an air of confidence which I found comforting however, he also reaches out to his colleagues when needed. I had a little mystery thing in my bladder - after removing it and receiving the pathology report he's referred me to another urologist in Boston. Lastly - Dr. Carswell has an easy going demeanor. I would gladly refer family and friends to Dr. Carswell.

My experience with Dr. Carswell has been very positive. He did an excellent job dealing with my stage 3 bladder cancer. It was a difficult case and his expertise was evident throughout the entire process, from diagnosis to surgery and follow-up. I found him to be a caring doctor and felt that he was genuinely interested in me as a person, not just as another case. He has been very encouraging and helpful in dealing with the various issues concerning my cancer.