Dr. Emmet Hirsch, MD

I cannot, in good conscience, recommend Dr. Hirsch to any pregnant woman--ESPECIALLY if she has survived sexual trauma. My husband and I met with him for a routine prenatal exam. Dr. Hirsch was condescending throughout the visit and responded to our questions with a great deal of defensiveness. He seems to perceive even basic questions as a challenge to his authority. The worst moment was when I disclosed to him that I have experienced multiple sexual assaults and expressed my concern that the birthing process could be triggering. He failed to respond with any compassion. Instead, when I mentioned that I might be triggered if medical interventions were used without my knowledge or consent, he responded: "Well, you're choosing to have a hospital birth, so of course things will happen without your knowledge or consent." His callous response served to increase my fears of being re-traumatized. I asked a clarifying question and mentioned the Patient Bill of Rights. He then… backtracked and stated that only during "extreme emergencies" would interventions be used without my knowledge or consent. He then advised me to "just trust" my doctor, failing to understand that establishing trust with a male doctor may be challenging for a sexual assault victim. He lacked patience. He lacked empathy. Dr. Hirsch also discouraged me from researching hospital policies with regard to labor and delivery. He also said that, anyway, he had "no idea" how to locate hospital and nursing protocols and recommended that I refer to the program EMMI, which was "similar enough" to their practices. I had, perhaps naively, assumed that Dr. Hirsch would be sensitive to matters relating to sexual trauma, given its prevalence among women. I hoped we would have a conversation that would feel collaborative and mitigate my fears. And since he is the Vice Chair of Obstetrics for Northshore, I had assumed he would be a well-informed resource and advocate, representing the best and brightest Northshore has to offer. I was sorely disappointed. Dr. Hirsch was also lacking in professionalism. At the appointment's end, he said, "That's everything," and walked towards the door. Even though I was feeling raw, I was courteous and thanked him for his time. He shut the door without another word. I cried for two hours after the appointment with Dr. Hirsch and have had panic attacks since then. I have never been treated so callously by a health care professional.

Dr. Hirsch has been my doctor for over 8 years. He is as thorough and conscientious as can be, with excellent bedside manners. I switched to him after a miscarriage because he showed the most compassion out of the 4 doctors I talked to during the process. When I got pregnant with my son, he worked with me on my birth plan and I had a natural delivery at 42. I am forever grateful to him for letting me have that experience. I will take my daughter to him when it's time for her to have check-ups.

didn't spend time with me. didn't help with poor prenatal diagnosis. was inaccurate in diagnosing. if you know everything about the risks of pregnancy and can advocate for yourself, take the risk, but otherwise I would shop around for someone who will spend the time with you and understand the importance of your pregnancy to you.