Dr. Robert Thrift Ferguson, MD

Assuming this is the same Robert Ferguson I encountered at the VA in Asheville (he is listed as having worked in Asheville and in Richmond), I urge others to avoid this dishonest, ego-driven excuse for a doctor as if he were a venereal disease. His vicious, inaccurate notes in my medical record prior to my surgery (not by him, thankfully), contributed greatly to my pre-surgery anxiety, and I did NOT appreciate it. His invalidating, one-sided statements (that were at best exaggerations, and at worst lies) describing my encounters with him and other staff members, appeared to have from him after I told him I preferred valve repair to replacement—an operation he admitted he might not be qualified for, as it was a “difficult repair”. He told me that should he decide not to perform my surgery (“though I COULD do it”... ego ya think??), bc of the difficulty of the repair, he would refer me to “Duke, or some place like that”... only to refer me to the VA hospital in Richmond (where he has… connections, I later learned.). My disappointment/irritation that he misled me about this (when I was trying to figure out who would do the actual surgery, and where), led him to write inaccurate, mean-spirited notes in my medical record, attempting to turn others against me due to my anxiety and other “mental health issues”... questioning my mental competence bc I “dared” to hold him accountable for his errors, while COMPLETELY REFUSING to acknowledge those errors or misstatements anywhere in the condescending “notes” with which he soiled my medical record. Apparently this individual does not believe patients have the right to question him, or to hold him accountable (though he criticizes OTHERS freely), so he threw me under the bus in an attempt to cover his own butt (and his ineptitude, as well as his lack of compassion and people skills), by blaming the patient. After all, how DARE I have concerns about my heart surgery, or want to get the best possible treatment from a well-respected medical facility?? Fortunately my surgery in Richmond turned out well (no thanks to him), but I would be remiss in my responsibility to anyone reading this if I did not point out the nastiness, dishonesty, and ego I experienced from this person, who was offended I wanted a surgeon more qualified/experienced than him to cut my heart open, apparently. If you have any other options, as to who cuts you open and oversees your medical treatment, I urge you to seriously consider them. Hopefully he’s grown up a bit since my experience (2014)—if not this guy seriously needs to get over himself, and learn to LISTEN (and put the well-being of his patients ahead of his own ego... as in, FIRST DO NO HARM). God forbid an intelligent patient should “bother” him with challenging questions (let alone disagree with someone of his stature, that would be unthinkable). SMH... lol. In short, my suggestion to potential patients is, RUN FORREST... RUN!!! Find a decent person without a chip on his shoulder to perform your surgery, who will not compound your already considerable stress, by casting aspersions on you as a human being (in notes he doesn’t think you’ll see), in a vain attempt to make himself look good, and feel better. Grow up, Bob, and get your facts straight.

I felt very comfortable with Dr. Ferguson. He took his time and gave me answers to my questions.