Dr. Warren Clarence Ketterling, MD

I was in my hospital bed when Dr. Ketterling came to visit me with a group of residents in tow. I was frightened about my failing health. I wanted him to answer a few quick questions that worried me greatly. He answered the first sarcastically, and the second he refused to answer. Instead, he approached my bedside with an angry expression, leaned toward me and said, caustically, â??You just wasted your whole time here at Mayo. Youâ??ve met with how many specialists? Why didnâ??t you ask your questions then? Perhaps you just want the attention? Or are you on hiatus from your job?â?? With a look of disgust he turned to the young residents standing at the back of the room, all who immediately looked at their shoes. Then, he abruptly left the room followed by the young, red-faced men who were unable to look me in the eyes as they filed past. If the event had taken place under other circumstances, when I was healthy and strong, I would have delivered a response appropriate to… mean-spiritedness. Sick and weak from ailments I battled for two years, all I could do was go in the lavatory and cry. Later, a floor nurse knocked on the bathroom door, asking if she could talk to me. She entered the bathroom and put her arm around me, â??My husband is a doctor here (Mayo Clinic) and he knows all about the person who has caused your tears and many othersâ??we all know about him,â?? she said. â??Please understand that I canâ??t be more forthcoming. Let me just say, thereâ??s always a worm somewhere in an apple barrel.â?? When you look at doctors as a whole, I realize that stories like these are rare; however, since my meeting with Dr. Ketterling, I have had chance encounters with others who've had similar experiences with him. It appears Dr. Ketterling thinks very little of the oath he took, AMAâ??s first principle of medical ethics, particularly the last part: â??A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity." From my point of view, it feels very much like this doctor prays on people who are physically and spiritually at a low point, and not only considers them lacking for it, he letâ??s them know it. And he takes it one step further by mocking them in front of those heâ??s teaching. I wouldn't doubt that he is clinically competent, but from my experience, he is ethically and spiritually devoid, something that can do egregious damage to those struggling with illness.

I was disappointed in my visits with Dr. Ketterling. I traveled to Mayo Clinic in search of a diagnosis for a troubling problem. Many patients like me are assigned first to an internist, who then requests tests and appointments with other specialists. While the overall experience at Mayo was very impressive, Dr. Ketterling was not. Of all the doctors I met at Mayo, he seemed the least prepared, apparently never reviewing my file or medical records prior to our meetings. He gave me no indication of what he thought might be wrong, or make any recommendations on a course of action. Given that he is supposed to be my main point of contact at Mayo, this resulted in an overall less than satisfying trip and not at all what I would expect at such a world class organization. I came to Mayo expecting help in getting a diagnosis, or at least suggestions on what to do next. I received neither from Dr, Ketterling.