Paul Samuel Berg, MD

Where do I even begin? I guess I'll start by saying that I always bring someone with me to new doctors. Everybody I know does as well. I like having moral support plus another pair of ears in the room, since i get nervous and tend to forget later on some of what was said. It has NEVER been a problem for any doctor I've ever been to. I brought my dad with me to my appointment with Dr. Berg, but before I could blink, Dr. Berg shook our hands and proceeded to kick my dad out of the room so he could "speak to me alone for a few minutes." I didn't necessarily think acid reflux required a private chat but there you go. Right away he asked how old I am (which he already knew from my file) and I distinctly felt he was shaming me for bringing a parent. The next 15 minutes consisted of him talking in circles, interjecting each time I'd describe my symptoms, and telling me to do more cardio (fitness is my life, I didn't need the lecture) and "don't eat starch." At one point he asked if I live… with my parents (again, really not sure what that question has to do with acid reflux.) It was way past the "few minutes" he wanted to speak to me alone, and I wanted my father back in the room. He was repeating himself by now and I didn't feel there was anything else to cover. When I asked him if we could bring my dad back in he said: "No." He said he wanted to touch on a few more things first and then do the exam before bringing him back in. I've had gastro exams before. They literally press down on your freaking stomach. That's it. I said, again, I'd be more comfortable with my dad in the room now and he waved it off. I continued to say I'd really like to fill my dad in on what we talked about. He said we will in a few more minutes and after the exam. I was trying not to full on panic now. I said I get very nervous at new doctors and prefer someone in the room with me and he said "but you look very calm right now." I was done. I got off the exam table and moved to the door. He cut me off and started to open the door, but not before saying: "Maybe you should stop talking to your parents about your stomach problems. Talking about it with them might be making it more real." Um... What? At no point did I ever say "I talk to my parents about my stomach problems!" All he did was shake my father's hand, exchange "nice to meet you"s, and from that point forward he seemed fixated on my relationship with my parents. I find it extremely difficult to believe that I'm the first person in the history of earth to bring a parent with them to a doctor's appointment. I know for a fact many of my friends do it as well. I'm not sure why this was such an issue for him, or what snap judgment about me he created from it. That my symptoms are psychogenic? That I'm a victim of munchausen by proxy? That I'm a freak because I chose to bring a parent with me to a new doctor I've never met before in my life? Frankly, I don't care what he thought. If you see a patient is panicky, maybe don't play psychologist and actually listen to what the patient is saying? And if the patient is brought to a point of downright pleading for the person they brought to come back in the room, how about you don't deny them that? Overall, I felt uncomfortable and trapped. After the "don't talk to your parents about your symptoms" jab he finally let my dad in, did the exam, and gave a quick summary of what we discussed. Based on these glowing reviews, I seem to be in the minority in my experience with this doctor, and that's fine, but I just wanted to share what happened in case it can help anybody. Especially if you're someone who prefers to bring somebody with you to new doctor appointments.

Where do I even begin? I guess I'll start by saying that I always bring someone with me to new doctors. Everybody I know does as well. I like having moral support plus another pair of ears in the room, since i get nervous and tend to forget later on some of what was said. It has NEVER been a problem for any doctor I've ever been to. I brought my dad with me to my appointment with Dr. Berg, but before I could blink, Dr. Berg shook our hands and proceeded to kick my dad out of the room so he could "speak to me alone for a few minutes." I didn't necessarily think acid reflux required a private chat but there you go. Right away he asked how old I am (which he already knew from my file) and I distinctly felt he was shaming me for bringing a parent. The next 15 minutes consisted of him talking in circles, interjecting each time I'd describe my symptoms, and telling me to do more cardio (fitness is my life, I didn't need the lecture) and "don't eat starch." At one point he asked if I live… with my parents (again, really not sure what that question has to do with acid reflux.) It was way past the "few minutes" he wanted to speak to me alone, and I wanted my father back in the room. He was repeating himself by now and I didn't feel there was anything else to cover. When I asked him if we could bring my dad back in he said: "No." He said he wanted to touch on a few more things first and then do the exam before bringing him back in. I've had gastro exams before. They literally press down on your freaking stomach. That's it. I said, again, I'd be more comfortable with my dad in the room now and he waved it off. I continued to say I'd really like to fill my dad in on what we talked about. He said we will in a few more minutes and after the exam. I was trying not to full on panic now. I said I get very nervous at new doctors and prefer someone in the room with me and he said "but you look very calm right now." I was done. I got off the exam table and moved to the door. He cut me off and started to open the door, but not before saying: "Maybe you should stop talking to your parents about your stomach problems. Talking about it with them might be making it more real." Um... What? At no point did I ever say "I talk to my parents about my stomach problems!" I find it extremely difficult to believe that I'm the first person in the history of earth to bring a parent with them to a doctor's appointment. I know for a fact many of my friends do it as well. I'm not sure why this was such an issue for him, or what snap judgment about me he created from it. That my symptoms are psychogenic? That I'm a victim of munchausen by proxy? That I'm a freak because I chose to bring a parent with me to a new doctor I've never met before in my life? Frankly, I don't care what he thought. If you see a patient is panicky, maybe don't play psychologist and actually listen to what the patient is saying? And if the patient is brought to a point of downright pleading for the person they brought to come back in the room, how about you don't deny them that? Overall, I felt uncomfortable and trapped. After the "don't talk to your parents about your symptoms" jab he finally let my dad in, did the exam, and gave a quick summary of what we discussed. Based on these glowing reviews, I seem to be in the minority in my experience with this doctor, and that's fine, but I just wanted to share what happened in case it can help anybody. Especially if you're someone who prefers to bring somebody with you to new doctor appointments.

Wonderful smart kind caring doctor who actually listens carefully to the patient a rarity

THE coolest doc with wealth of knowledge in his specialty.

I was very sick and I was looking for a gastroenterologist and I was referred by a friend. His staff was so nice and he was a doll. He really listened to me and made me feel comfortable. He's a great doctor and I am never changing!