Dr. Vern L Katz

We waited almost an hour before being seen. The ultra sound technician did a good job. We then waited a long time in another room while staff laughed and talked. We could hear clearly much of what they were saying. They had no apparent regard for our time. The last visit we were forgotten in a room. We felt pressured to take an amniocentesis test, even though we had said "No" at the previous appointment. The whole appointment seemed to be about getting that test regardless of desire or need. When grandmother of baby asked why they should risk a miscarriage for a test that would not affect the outcome, Dr. Katz said twice that we should not listen to her. We felt that many of his comments were inaccurate and offensive. To his credit we were not rushed. When the grandmother told Dr. Katz that the last appointment the first time mom had she was crying and upset, feeling that she was going to have a down syndrome child. When in fact the risk was low (you said less than 1/2%)she was not… reassured, not given any information sheets explaining more thoroughly what they had said. She was told to call with her questions that she would have later. She called twice and the calls were not returned. When it was pointed out that she was crying and upset Dr. Katz's only concern was who took the call. When asked if she felt better now, the grandmother said family members had calmed and reasured her, not staff.