Dr. Richard Ira Bernstein, MD

I was refused an apt with dr bernstein repeatedly going bak over a year with severe endocrine symptoms after a Valium cut at kaiser. He refused to see me. I've been incapacited for twenty years. A few weeks ago I was told to double my thyroid dose. I was started on thyroid at kaiser in 2004. I left kaiser because of malpractice. I've been refused tx at Marin community clinics since leaving kaiser. I've also Been unable to get an attorney. If you are a victim of malpractice at kaiser you may end up being refused medical care outside of kaiser ( mds will try to cover mistakes). Avoid kaiser, danger

I have a horrible autoimmune problem, sjogren syndrome. I recently went to a ruematologist dr. Peter Stein in greenbrae and did not get proper medical treatment(he does not believe in pain medicine or muscle relaxers). He told me Valium causes loss of rem sleep and dementia. That is very innaproipriate given the horrible stiffness I have which can lead to joint damage if untreated. He ordered blood work and did not go over the results. I had him mail me a copy and was horrified( low RBC count which has endocrine implications). I also am taking thyroid. So, I made an apt. With dr. Bernstein after my horrible experience with dr. Stein. Unfortunately, I got the days mixed up. It was Monday (the day of my apt) and I thought it was Sunday. I am disabled and not working. A low RBC count can also cause confusion. Dr. Bernstein's secretary said I could not reschedule and that dr. Bernstein would not see me because I missed the apt. Does anybody see something wrong with this picture??? If this… guy is an endocrinologist and someone misses an apt. With horribly abnormal bloodwork, that could lead to confusion, he should be ashamed of himself and does not deserve the title of endocrinologist. Do yourself a favor and choose someone else. Dr. Bernstein is 70 years old and maybe should consider retiring after conduct like that. Kaiser md's don't act like that when apt's are missed. I guess they understand abnormal blood work......

Fine bedside manner, would recommend him to a friend

I've heard in the past about doctors with God complexes, but never experienced it until I visited Dr. Bernstein. He had one and only one solution for hyperthyroidism, which was to kill the thyroid. This is fine as AN option, but not as THE option. He was completely incapable of adjusting medication; he was frustrated and flustered when asked to do so. And, neither he nor his nurse would tell me my lab results. They knew I was taking the wrong dosage for my current thyroid problem, but refused to tell me if it was too much or too little. When I finally did find out what the problem was, Dr. Bernstein had no idea how I should adjust my medication. He actually said, "How should I know?"My former endocrinologist, who charges maybe a 4th of the price, is perfectly willing to give patients their lab results, and discus them with patients and advise them on what options they have. This is called being a capable doctor. I now fly to see my award-winning old doctor. It's cheaper and… better.Avoid Dr. Bernstein like the plague.

My GP misdiagnosed me with Graves Disease and caused me an enormous amount of worry and stress. Fortunately, I was referred to Dr. Bernstein who caught the error. Due to his years of expertise, he recognized that what I truly had was an extremely rare form of hyperthyroidism which is even more rare than Graves Disease. He said it did not require any medicine (just periodic monitoring) and it should go away on its own within a year. He turned out to be right and I am so thankful that I did not end up taking unnecessary medicine or receiving unnecessary medical treatments as my GP predicted I would. It has been several years now and my thyroid tests come back normal at my annual physicals with my GP. I would definitely recommend Dr. Bernstein.

I would not use this doctor. He is treating me for hashimotos/hypothyroid and I had to insist on medication. Despite the number of symptoms that I had for hypothyroidism, he thought my labs weren't "that bad" and I could get away with staying off meds. The next visit, after feeling a millions times better from being on thyroid replacement, we discussed my weight gain. He told me I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted (including a cookie as my lunch) just as long as I didn't exceed 1200 calories. My last visit, my lab results weren't what he expected and chalked them up to a "lab error" with no follow up test. Just a see you in 3 months.

Do not use this doctor! Several years ago this doctor treated me for a Graves disease, a thyroid condition. I was strongly urged to take iodine radiation which he insisted he was capable of administering in a dose that would "cure" my problem. All my thyroid function was subsequently destroyed and I have since found out that what he insisted he could do is nearly impossible. The quality of my life has drastically changed with all the negatives of now being completely hypothyroid. I will also mention "woman beware" for consistent improprieties by Dr. Bernstein, if you do go to him, insist a nurse be in the office with you.