Dr. Joan Rachel Butcher, MD

I can me in some typical with issues and she said “You’re not suffering. Suffering is the prisoners in Syria prison”. Don’t say your suffering ever again” - Joan Butcher She’s rude, unprofessional, dismissive. I’d rather suffer than see her. She caused more trauma.

We saw Dr. Butcher for our teen daughter’s depression and anxiety. The longer we saw her, the worse we felt about her. She finally “lost it” during one of our appointments, was extremely unprofessional, and I’d been uncomfortable with how many medications she had our daughter on at once. (She was like a walking medicine cabinet and still not feeling better.) When I learned about some side effects of one of the medications our daughter had been taking for a year and was finally able to pinpoint that her worst problems correlated with the beginning of that medicine, my husband and I discussed the possible side effects with our daughter. When she read the list she began crying and admitted, “Mom I have every single thing on that list EXCEPT panic attacks.” (Of the things on the list were suicidal thoughts...in a patient being treated for depression!) I didn’t realize how powerful one medication could be to completely alter someone’s personality and it was a friend who finally put the… puzzle together for us. When we immediately spoke to Dr. Butcher about it, she used extreme cuss words toward us which clearly made us both VERY uncomfortable. We spoke to our pediatrician about it (who’d initially recommended her) and our daughter told the detailed story about our last visit with her. He told me I needed to report it to her company, report her to the medical board, recommended a new psychiatrist immediately, and agreed to continue filling her prescriptions until we can get in to see the new psychiatrist. Our daughter had left her office in tears, begging me, “Mom PLEASE DON’T EVER MAKE ME GO BACK AND SEE HER AGAIN!!” I promised I wouldn’t then found her a new psychiatrist. What a difference!!! The new psychiatrist slowly weaned her down to ONE medication over the course of many months and she has been doing very well for the past 2-1/2 years on that one pill/day! The medication I’d questioned WAS, in fact, what altered her personality. It’s so powerful that it even has its own named withdrawal syndrome because withdrawal from this drug can be so difficult (and her dosage was pretty high.) I also learned this drug is NOT for anyone under the age of 18. Our daughter was 14 or 15 when Dr. Butcher put her on it...when I brought up my concern to her about the age is when she became belligerent with me and took it out on me and my daughter. A year or so later, I was told Dr. Butcher is on medical leave. Then I spoke to a friend of hers and learned she wasn’t just “on medical leave” but wasn’t coming back at all because she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, it’s inoperable, and terminal. It was affecting her thought process and likely explained why she was over-prescribing meds, getting irate, acting unprofessionally, and getting very angry over simple questions as if we didn’t believe she was an expert on the subject. She had no idea and was unaware of her own behavioral changes. I wish I had said something to the ladies at the front desk before we left that day. I chalked it up to her having a bad day and taking it out on us (not okay, but never thought it was a brain tumor!); maybe I could have been one of the many patients who’d complained and made comments that she wasn’t acting like herself. I actually learned that all those patient comments are what led to her getting checked out and ultimately the discovery of her brain tumor. While the outcome of her passing would inevitably be the same for an inoperable brain tumor, a lot of patients who saw her during her last year in practice could have avoided some terrible experiences and been prescribed *proper* medications as needed. She was not of sound mind for at least the last year we saw her, likely a little longer but not as obvious. Our daughter lost a full year of her life because of the medications Dr. Butcher put her on and she was not at all receptive to our feedback in thinking the medication may be causing more of a problem rather than helping. To now realize it was all due to a brain tumor absolutely breaks my heart for her and her family. It makes me feel much stronger about speaking up when something doesn’t seem right, even if it doesn’t turn out to just be a bad day. In our case, this went on far too long and I blame myself for not recognizing the timeline of the new medication being prescribed and the vastly altered personality within a month or two of beginning that prescription...plus the other 3 or 4 pills she was taking each day. It was awful! And the withdrawals were horrendous for our daughter. Dr. Butcher couldn’t help it. I’m thankful so many of her other patients were proactive and sensed something might be wrong rather than chalking it up to a bad day like I did. I guess I figured she was the expert and knew better than I did. I encourage everyone to do their research into whatever medications are being prescribed, be sure they don’t have contraindications with other medications, and take an active role in their healthcare. Don’t JUST rely on the knowledge and expertise of your healthcare provider; you have to do it *together*. I hope this review brings some understanding to other patients who also had terrible experiences with Dr. Joan Butcher (2017-2018 & possibly even 2016). If you’re the praying type, I’m sure she and her family would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Dr Butcher is one of the most thougtful and approachable psychiatrists I know. She listens intently and offers sound jugement and diagnosis.She helped guide me through a difficult family situation and her concern was evident. highly recommend.

I have been seeing Dr. Butcher for over a decade, she is empathetic, kind, and listens...she has literally saved my life twice. I cannot fathom why she is being bashed by others. She has never been anything but professional and caring. She never judges my behavior and truly cares about me, She told me to call her ANY time I needed her......The best physician I have ever had, across the board.

I agree and have personally witnessed a lot of this doctors sad behavior. I will be looking elsewhere!

Seeing Joan Butcher for your mental wellness is the equivalent of seeing Dracula for blood work...DO NOT DO IT!

Stay clear from this AWFUL doctor!

You go to a psychiatrist for help and your told by her that you’re (sic) crazy? Joan Butcher needs to look in the mirror!

I went to her based on a friends referral. Went a handful of times over the course of two years Each time I said never again and finally she pushed me over the edge. She is rude and judgementaI. I agree with others that if a person was In a severe mental condition she could push them over the edge instead of helping. Do not recommend!

I had a great experience with Dr. Butcher. She was professional and kind with every encounter I've had with her. She worked with me to figure out the best way to move forward and was not judgmental or rude at all.