Dr. Isabelle Roux Franklin

My interaction with Dr. Isabelle Franklin left me deeply concerned about her communication style, care coordination, and overall approach to patient care. Throughout our interactions, I found her communication to be dismissive, adversarial, and lacking empathy. Rather than engaging in collaborative discussions about my treatment plan, I often felt that conversations were focused on pushing toward discharge regardless of unresolved medical concerns. One incident was particularly troubling. On the morning of our interaction, my pain management physician visited and explained that the plan was to continue evaluating a feasible outpatient pain regimen by trialing oral medications while maintaining breakthrough IV pain medication as needed. This was presented as an ongoing process to determine whether my pain could be adequately controlled. Later that afternoon, Dr. Franklin entered my room and immediately began discussing discharge. At the time, I was experiencing severe uncontrolled… pain, rated 10 out of 10, and was still requiring IV pain medication. During the conversation, she stood with her hands on her waist in what appeared to be a confrontational posture. While others may view this differently, I found it offensive and intimidating, particularly given my cultural background and the vulnerable position of being hospitalized and in severe pain. Most concerning was the apparent lack of communication with the Pain Management team. The discharge discussion appeared inconsistent with the plan that had been explained to me earlier that day by the pain specialists. I was left with the impression that Dr. Franklin had not adequately coordinated with the consulting team before attempting to move forward with discharge planning. As a patient with complex medical conditions, I expect physicians to communicate with one another, review specialist recommendations, and ensure that treatment plans are aligned before making significant decisions. Instead, I felt unheard, dismissed, and pressured toward discharge while my pain remained poorly controlled. My experience with Dr. Franklin raised serious concerns regarding communication, interdisciplinary coordination, and patient-centered care. I hope these concerns are reviewed so that future patients do not have similar experiences during what may already be one of the most difficult periods of their lives.