Dr. John Robert Stephens, MD

A number of years ago, Dr. Stephens performed a colonoscopy with heavy sedation that went all right. When I needed a second one five years later, he chose medium sedation without consulting me first! I have a redundant, spastic colon where the normal prep does not clean out my colon enough which I always tell the staff and doctor but they won't listen to me! During this colonoscopy, I became aware of hideous pain and kept trying to get away from him saying, "Why are you doing this to me? Why are you hurting me so badly? Why does this hurt so bad?!?" over and over!!! I was clinging to the bed rail, the top of the mattress and in agonizing pain!!! It seemed to go on FOREVER and it was PURE TORTURE!!! When my friend and I were leaving I started telling her about the terrible pain and she said that Dr. Stephens had come into the room, while I was still under the influence of the anesthesia and told me my blood pressure had plummeted so he stopped all sedation BUT KEPT ON WITH THE… COLONOSCOPY ANYWAY!!! I have PTSD, but even if I didn't, I was totally TRAUMATIZED and could not understand why this DOCTOR would do such a terrible thing to me! I called him and asked him why. At first he was very flip and tried to laugh it off. Then he got churlish and said, "Well what did you want me to do?!" I asked him WHY he hurt me so much and WHY he didn't stop! He said he guess he should have in hindsight. I asked him why he didn't use heavy sedation like he did the first time and he said he guessed he should have. He didn't apologize. When I saw the medical report, he had written "poor preparation" which infuriated me because I had tried to tell both him and his staff that the regular prep would not work on me! The outcome wasn't due to poor prep! It was due to his blatant disregard for my welfare (not enough sedation) and not stopping the procedure when he saw how much pain he was causing me, his patient!!! I didn't but I SHOULD have reported him!!! In my opinion this man shouldn't even be practicing medicine based on the horrible pain he caused me and for which he showed no remorse!

I have known Dr. Stephens for many years as the most capable, proffessional and considerate physician of any. He was alway kind, and willing to serve me and my family needs throught the years. Even thought I now live outside the area I still see Dr. Stephens as needed upon my return. He,s a consumate professional

His diagnosis of my condition was incorrect and his knowledge of my condition was minimal.I rarely seen him for my appointment.I mostly seen his P.A..He never listened to ant of my concerns.It was always hard for me to get appointments.