Dr. John Linton Elliott, MD

Having access to equitable healthcare is a right for all Americans. For centuries, Black Americans have long been spoken to like animals and less than human. It is inappropriate for a physician to condescendingly refer a Black male patient by the name of a world renowned Black female professional tennis player. After being told (in real time) the racial-gender inappropriate statement was offensive and inappropriate, Dr. Elliott took no steps to apology or self-correct. Launching the use of such statements would be inappropriate when used toward employees in any work setting and would contribute/foster the creation of a hostile work environment. Similarly, use of such statements creates an unhealthy-hostile environment when used among any patient. In addition, Dr. Elliott sought to re-prescribe a medication that was documented in my medical records (at the same medical practice) five years ago to cause debilitating muscle pain. After making attempts to bring concerns to the… attention of the medical practice, my efforts went largely ignored and unaddressed. With the assistance of a civil rights attorney, shareholders (physicians) in the medical practice agreed to thoroughly review its anti-discrimination policies and procedures to make sure they are complete. The medical practice also agreed to enforce the Group’s stance that discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated and that the group will seek to reinforce its anti-discriminatory training at all levels, including physicians, clinical and non-clinical staff, to assist in better serving their patient population. Achieving optimal patient care involves focusing on how patients objectively feel. Ignoring patients’ feedback that a class of medications causes pain physically and how the use of inappropriate racial-gender name calling causes psychological harm should be avoided all together. Medical arrogances and unprofessionalism must be avoided, managed, and quickly corrected at all times. Hopefully, Dr. John L. Elliot and the medical practice will learn from these recent provider-patient encounters. It is my hope that this medical practice works hard to ensure this does not happen to current and/or future patients regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, religion, sexual orientation, and medication intolerance.