Dr. Joan Laura Arnold, MD

Dr. Arnold said, “There’s nothing I can do...” We went to see Dr. Joan Laura Arnold ( Possible owner of ABCD Pedi) at the Stone Oak location after my son had been vomiting and experiencing nausea for over 6 days. As soon as Dr. Arnold walked in the room, and with a stone cold face, she abruptly asked, “What’s up?” We ignored the alarmingly repulsive greeting and proceeded to describe all the symptoms my son had been experiencing for the past week: Shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, constant hunger, no diarrhea, extreme thirst, more than regular urination and severe weight loss (about 18 lbs in six days!). Dr. Arnold instructed my son to hop on one foot, which was unnecessarily cruel since he was so weak he nearly fell over, and then she looked at his mouth and ears and listened to his stomach. She immediately concluded that he had a stomach bug, a “GI virus“ to be exact. I asked if she could prescribe medication to help him and she said, “No. There is… nothing I can do for him. Rest and wait it out.” I am no doctor, but I knew there was something more going on with my son’s health — who loses 18 lbs in six days? I immediately had no confidence in Dr. Arnold’s assessment and took my son to a nearby clinic to see another doctor, who was extremely thorough and who ordered urine/blood tests due to the drastic weight loss. Thank God I trusted my instincts and didn’t trust Dr. Arnold’s assessment!!!! The day after we saw Dr. Arnold, my son was immediately admitted to a local children’s hospital - ICU. His condition was declared a medical emergency - DKA (onset of type 1 diabetes). His blood sugar number was over 478 (normal range is between 80-100 they said). My son was literally dying and Dr. Arnold’s advice was “to go home and get rest” because “there’s nothing I can do...” She is a doctor, a baby doctor! Isn’t it her job to do something? Why didn’t she sees the signs (obvious now that I looked them up); why didn’t she order urine and blood work? She said he didn’t not appear dehydrated, but she never order a test to confirm (the second doctor immediately ordered a urine test - why didn’t she?). She said he had a GI virus, but he never had diarrhea- the other doctor said not likely since there wasn’t diarrhea in six days. She said the weight loss was likely due to all the liquids he had been drinking - the other doctor said the drastic weight loss was a huge concern. She said, “there is nothing I can do...” - the other doctor immediately gave my son Zofran in the office to help with the nausea, then he ordered a urine test, then he ordered a blood test. Yes, there was more she could have done!!! She simply choose not to do it! I put my baby’s life in her hands and she dismissed his symptoms and misdiagnosed (seemed to even refuse to treat) my boy! Had I listened to her instructions - to take him home and let him rest - he likely would not have survived. The other doctors said, if I had not sought treatment, he would have likely slipped into a diabetic coma with a day or two. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t happen over night. All the signs are present weeks before DKA sets in... the symptoms were present, but Dr. Arnold dismissed them! Trust your instincts and know that a good medical doctor will always do more to treat the people you love.

Dr. Arnold is OK but pretty rushed. She comes out quite strong and gets bothered when you ask questions. This last visit she seemed very agitated. I thought she had some real issues that morning since there no reason to be so rude towards a patient. The staff though nice does not seem very competent as well. Sorry ABCD going elsewhere.