Dr. William Howard Brown, MD

This doctor bullied me into having an unnecessary CT scan years ago after I came in for mild but persistent nausea. All he did was palpate my abdomen and ask me a few questions about my health and my health insurance, and that was enough for him to decide I needed an emergency CT scan. I repeatedly asked him why I needed it, explaining that I really needed to go back to work, and he merely kept creeping toward me and towering over me as I stood by the elevator, ready to leave. I still vividly remember the ordeal and the amount of discomfort and stress that resulted from being strong-armed into having an abdominal CT scan same-day. He insisted it was an emergency, which it most certainly was not. He would not tell me why he was so insistent or what he thought was wrong. He merely kept telling me I had to have a CT scan immediately while he stood over me for no other reason than to intimidate me. I was young, petite, and didn't question doctors' intentions or orders back then... except… that I did, at least internally, because my instincts told me not to do it. After several minutes of this strange and aggressive behavior from Dr. Brown, I agreed to have the CT scan, not realizing what I was getting myself into other than suddenly having to miss the rest of my work day at a new job with an urgent deadline. I was of prime reproductive age, and he did not order a pregnancy test before the abdominal CT scan. I was merely informed by the CT technician AFTER drinking the contrast that if I was pregnant, I would need to terminate my pregnancy, and would I be OK with that? Um. What??? Correct protocol would be for the prescribing doctor to administer a pregnancy test PRIOR to any such procedure, given the potentially severe consequences for an embryo/fetus and the apparent need for a post-CT termination. Fortunately, I was not pregnant, although they certainly didn't know that at the time since they never gave me a pregnancy test. Additionally, Dr. Brown did not give me any warnings about the side effects of the contrast or the amount of radiation I would be exposed to. He merely pushed and pushed until I acquiesced. Suffice it to say, the CT scan found nothing at all. He told me after the fact that he had thought I might be having an abdominal aortic aneurism. I had none of the symptoms of an aortic aneurism. No severe abdominal pain, no sensation of tearing. I was just there for some mild nausea and heartburn. I ended up with severe bloody diarrhea for over a week from the contrast I drank for the CT scan. This caused me discomfort and humiliation at the job I was working at the time (imagine a freelance employee blowing up the unventilated coed toilets at a hip NYC ad agency with uncontrollable diarrhea during the entirety of their stint), and my reproductive and other organs were unnecessarily irradiated because this guy knew I had good insurance and saw an opportunity. Nearly a decade later, the memory of the situation is still upsetting to me and I've had to address it in psychotherapy more than once. That's called medical trauma. And I really don't think Dr. Brown took the damage his carelessness and callousness might inflict on patients seriously. I don't think he ever even considered that bullying a patient into an unnecessary procedure that happened to be lucrative for his department would cause said patient trauma. I doubt he remembers me at all. I'm finally writing a review in the hopes that it will a) save someone else from having to go through anything remotely similar, and b) maybe give me some closure so I can let go of this negative experience and stop blaming myself for not standing up to a doctor when I knew in my gut what he was doing was wrong. All I can say is thank goodness I wasn't pregnant because that would have added a whole other layer of trauma and complexity to this matter that would be much, much harder to recover from. This negative experience was entirely preventable. Dr. Brown: First, do no harm.

Love Dr. Brown! Pleasant bedside manner and friendly. His staff is wonderful too

On 2 occasions he told me he would send perceptions in and never did Now I am getting a massive bill because he didn’t send info to insurance

Dr. Brown literally saved my husband's life. He had a very severe pancreatic infection that went undiagnosed by others for months. Finally, Dr. Brown met with us, acted fast, and found it when he was basically septic. He also kept us informed every step of the way and explained everything in great detail. We love Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown does a great job with my health care. He is caring and understanding of my health care needs.

seems pleasant at first. However, very judgemental and inappropriate

Lacks competence, compassion & bedside manners! Makes you wonder how he is able to maintain his medical license. You are better off getting care & medical treatment from a free clinic.

I have been having a problem for years which no other Doctor could pinpoint. Dr Brown found it. I'm overjoyed!

Dr. Brown fixed me. Best GI I've ever been to.

Cold and callous bedside manner. Cannot believe a doctor can be so rude and uncaring. Will never go back to see him.