Dr. Clare Louise Desmond, MD

After waiting nine hours in the waiting room at Northshore Glenbrook hospital, I was admitted to room 12 where I experienced the worst medical service of my life. Clare Desmond was assigned to assist me to which she belittled my concerns, displayed an attitude with snobby remarks, and was overall extremely disrespectful to both me, the patient, and my family in attendance. I chose to go to the hospital after experiencing hives that became chronic to the point of causing difficulty eating or drinking, as even water presented a reaction that caused my lips and tongue to become inflamed and irritated. When explaining my situation to Desmond as debilitating, she stated, “I had a patient earlier claiming they had chronic fatigue, and that’s too difficult to diagnose in the emergency room. So if you are here because of chronic fatigue, I have nothing for you.” I explained my situation multiple times along with pictures on my phone, even with my skin flaring up on my neck and shoulders in… front of her, and she still would ask in a rude tone, “So why are you even here?” She continued asking questions that I have either previously answered or were not relevant to the issue to which I finally answered, “I don’t know” because I had no further explanation for why I should beg for their services. To that response, she answered in an inappropriate tone, “That’s what I thought,” and she said she could send a request in for a COVID test to which I told her I am not here for COVID testing; I would not be in the emergency room if I did not feel the need to receive medical service to help me in my current situation of hives. Before exiting the room to get her nurse, I felt disrespected when she commented, “In the meantime, you can drink that water you brought because I can guarantee you are not allergic to water. Trust me,” in the most disrespectful manner. I know I am not allergic to water as we are greatly made up of water, and I would be displaying even greater symptoms besides hives to water. To reiterate my concern, it was due to anything my skin came in contact with causing me to break out in hives; but that seemed to have granted Desmond the opportunity to disrespect me and treat me as less than human. As someone studying within the medical field, it is inevitable to have a spectrum of concerns one will encounter in the hospital. Each patient chose to come to the hospital for the same reason: to receive adequate medical service that they cannot solve themselves and that requires further assistance. No matter the severity of concern, the busyness of the hospital, one’s life at home, and whatever other excuse, this job is dedicated to helping those in need; and performing a job as poorly as Desmond should be noted as I hope no one else will have to be mistreated or misdiagnosed by her unacceptable, unprofessional, and inappropriate service.

I was seen in the emergency room, needless to say, I've never being treated by someone with such a lack of respect & bedside manners, she came in to my room and had no idea about my history, she had sent 2 residents previously, still she did not get the story correct. Not only that but I got tired of stating that I had a total hysterectomy, still she run a urine pregnancy and blood test!! there it goes the proof that she was NOT listening....how dumb can you be? it was in my history!!