Dr. Shahid Rafiq, MD

DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME NOR MONEY. HE'S A JOKE!

I was seen by Dr Rafiq inpatient after a head injury caused stroke like or seizure symptoms. All of my tests were normal but he put me on seizure medication and blood thinners to rule out. He told me to follow up at his office for which I was unable to get an appointment for three months. After severe side effects to the medication that required an ER visit he changed meds over the phone with the ER Dr and put me on another seizure medication that also had equally bad side effects that results in having to call paramedics at 2 AM. My internist called and was able to get me in earlier but it was his office who called to tell me about the appointment policy that if you are five minutes late you will not be seen. I arrived six minutes late because I am having problems with memory and directional orientation related to my mTBI. The office staff did not say Hello they just said we can not see you are six minutes late and only five are allowed. I begged because I am truly suffering with my… symptoms. They said no we will not see you and I then asked to see the policy. I was told it was posted somewhere. I read everything on the counter and walls and this policy was not displayed. I asked again for the policy and was told by the young receptionist I am not comfortable speaking with you and she dismissed me. Another receptionist came out and told me Dr Rafiq would see me. During the visit he only wanted to prescribe meds, when I told him of my side effects he asked me what I wanted to since I was refusing seizure med for migraine. I stated I had adverse reaction to those meds and only then did he state ok then you can not take them. He only wanted to treat migraine, did not want to address the pain, and when I tried to tell him how the mtbi was affecting another rare condition I had called achalasia he said my achalasia symptoms were anxiety related. We went back and forth and only did he back down when I said my Hopkins Drs would highly disagree with you. At that point he said this is not a good therapeutic relationship. I said sir I am here to get help. I have every symptom a TBI can manifest including the return of infantile reflexes. He said I know you do. I know you do in a sarcastic tone. Not once did he examine me and he left he sitting in the chair in tears. He said I should see a psychiatrist. I told him this was brain pathology and even mentioned the damage on my MRI that was noted inpatient. He eventually said you need a tertiary center that deals with TBI. I said I can not drive to one because of my symptoms I needed local Drs. I asked if he knew about TBI and how to treat and he went back to saying well perhaps you are having stroke and seizures, his supposed speciality. I have been a BSN, RN for 20 years and every medical question I asked was answered with I am not here to answer questions. I left in tears with two new scripts I will not take as there are drug interactions with my achalasia and hasimotos medications. I was emotionally traumatized by this visit. This man has no affect, no bed side manner and made a bad situation for me even worse. And lets not forget it takes months to get in and their policy he said is now that you arrive 15 minutes early or you are late. So when I showed up for my three thirty at three thirty six I was 26 six minutes late. Not only do I not recommend I would say if you have to see this Dr run do not walk.

My family is traumatized by our experience with Dr. Fariq at FMH. My stepdad was admitted to the ICU last week, on a breathing tube and heavily sedated. This violated his directives, which EMS was unable to review, but we understood their protocol. We were in the process of lowering his sedation level to assess if he could breath on his own when Dr. Rafiq arrived to administer a "neuro exam." Dr. Rafiq stated he had not reviewed my stepdad's file, but regardless, my stepdad should be admitted to hospice immediately to "free up an ICU bed for someone who needs it more." We attempted to communicate our current plan, but he dismissively interrupted with, "The client has a DNI, why was he ever intubated?" Reluctantly, he completed his "exam," which consisted of him roughly shaking my stepdad's shoulders and yelling, "Show me two fingers!" Dr. Rafiq next determined that because this heavily sedated man could not show him two fingers, he was terminal and should be admitted to hospice.… Thirty-six hours later, my stepdad is off the breathing tube, eating on his own, talking and joking with the family in a lower level unit. I work with the aged and dying and have a graduate degree in thanatology (the study of death and dying) from Hood College (ironically located across the street from where this incident occurred). I cannot fathom treating a family in the abhorrent manner with which Dr. Rafiq treated my own.

I had a positive experience. Dr. Rafiq took me in when I was a desperate man 4 years ago. He takes plenty of time to listen and he thinks very carefully before he speaks. I enjoy being seen by him.

I don't like the fact that you can't make a follow up appointment because their calendar doesn't go out that far. The receptionist always says they will put you in for a call to make an appointment when the calendar is ready and twice now they have not. I have to call in and then my appointment is always 2 months after what the doctor wanted to see me.

The office staff is very rude!!!!

After only my first visit to the Frederick office, I was so happy that I transferred to Dr. Rafiq. The office is beautiful & modern. The front desk & clinical staff were so cheerful & caring. Although the office was busy on the day of my visit, Dr. Rafiq gave me his full attention and did very thorough review of my history and complaints. I am very surprised to read some of these reviews, as my experience with him was better than the other neurologists I've seen.

This Dr Walked into my hospital room asked how I was doing said a therapist would be in and walked out. I couldn't even ask a question. Then we received a large bill, even after our INS PAID.

Rederred from FMH. Was given perfunctory exam and referred to FMH for more tests. Then referred to specialist who doesn't take my insurance (thought they should have known this). When I called back to office for another Dr., I was told they would call me back-never did. When I called back late that afternoon I was told to call my insurance company for a Dr. Aso acted like they were doing me a favor by even answering the phone.

Doctor Rafiq was assigned to us via the hospital. My husband suffered a stroke and Dr. Rafiq didn't bother to get familiar with his case at all. All the information he provided was incorrect. If he would have taken the five minutes to review the file he would have known he didn't have high blood pressure. He didn't smoke. He ate well. Lifestyle was not the cause. Also very slow to order and review tests. Asked hospital to change doctors after two days and they refused. Got him out of there as quick as we could. Afraid he would have done more damage with him in the hospital seeing him.