Dr. Sammit Kumar Sabharwal, DO

Unfortunately, my last day of treatment in the COVID unit, the doctor whom treated me all week had the day off. Through the week, this staff doctor had talked to me every day to assess me for improvements, learn my patient history, and develop a plan with me for the recovery of my weakened lungs. The staff doctor was off the day of my release. Sammit was a fill in for my final day / release from the COVID unit. When Sammit said he would not provide a prescription for steroids, I explained my pre-existing lung conditions which have been lifelong. I explained that it was normal for me to carry a winter cough until mid-spring because on my own, my lungs could not get past it. I also explained that it often takes me three rounds of steroids to get rid of an upper respiratory infection. I informed him that the doctor who had cared for me all week had taken this into consideration and agreed to send me home with a steroid prescription. Sammit was not at all interested in my patient… history or what the staff doctor had observed over the previous days. Instead, he dug in, to me it appeared to be a matter of pride for him. Our conversation was ended when he made the statement, “I may regret this in two months, but I am not giving you a prescription!” Four days later my ribs were broken from coughing. My lungs spiraled down more quickly because of the pain and trying to avoid the coughing. The follow up medical bills are still continuing. I am just finishing my third round of steroids and now being sent to pulmonary specialist. I wonder if the ribs and specialist could have been avoided if the original doctor’s plan would have been followed. I believe Sammit’s refusal to consider patient history cost additional thousands in medical bills, additional lost work time and added weeks of impact to my family. In recent conversations with doctors providing me with care I have learned that there is an understanding that for 90% of people recovering from COVID, they should not receive steroids because it can actually slow down their recovery. However, these doctors all took the time to engage in a real doctor – patient conversation with me. Each of these doctors indicated that patient history must be considered, and that with my history not providing steroids would be the wrong decision.