Have you ever just walked out of an exam because you didn't like either the exam, the examiner, or the facility?

What happened? What repercussions happened later, if any?

No. In the UK you take what is offered or nothing !!

Not exactly, but I have come close. I had been at an appointment where the doctor suggested I get a flu shot, and I politely declined. As I was leaving the exam room, a nurse arrived with "my" shot. I told her I had declined the doctor's suggestion and kept walking to the exit. I did have to pick up my paperwork summary and the nurse followed me, insisting that I get the shot. At this point, I was really mad because there is nothing I hate more than telling someone "no" and have them ignore my wishes.

The nurse got the doc and he claimed it was a misunderstanding but did not clarify who was misunderstood. The receptionist then insisted that I schedule another physical for one year hence but I refused and said, "I'll be in touch." I did eventually go back, but not for a number of years.

In university during an x-ray of my lungs, a troubling spot was found. I went to a pneumologist who, as it later turned out, completely misdiagnosed me. After some two years being treated by him when it became clear he was way off track, I simply dropped him and never came back. This was after he had scheduled an unnecessary overnight stay at a hospital and put on an also unnecessary medical show.

A second time was when another doctor sent me to a hospital for a test which he assured me was for the day clinic. After the test was done the staff wanted to check me in for an overnight stay. I protested that that wasn't the plan and that I would refuse to stay. I fear I lost my temper at being lied to and I was given a waiver to sign and then called my wife to come get me. That time I really and truly did walk out. I did not appreciate the false pretenses/assurances. Nor that my wife was apparently privy.

None of these 2 instances had anything to do with costs mind you. Medical costs are minimal here so these were no concern.

It was the false pretenses and being less than completely open about what was scheduled.

Several times I consider my time valuable, at least to me, I had an appointment, showed up early , did the whole checkin process and was shown to a room Thirty minutes later, after several questions on where the damn dr was I left. This bs of ''she's running late'' doesn't cut it.

When my son was 5, he cut his arm requiring stitches. At the ER, the Dr. said that I could not be in the room while he was stitched up. I was given 5 minutes to leave.

I thanked the Dr. and we left to go to a different ER where we were treated with respect and I was allowed to hold my son during the procedure.

It was not an exam, but years ago where I worked was having a blood donation event. My boss at the time was trying to get everyone to participate so I went. The phlebotomist tried to get the needle into my arm and after the third attempt missed my vein I told her never mind and walked out.

@Emom

I had the similar thing happen to me when the phlebotomist poked the needle clear through the vein and tried to come back into the vein from the bottom side…I had to yell “stop already!! I’m done!”

After my two surgeries by a specialist, at the recomdation of my PCP, I made an appointment with the local urologist that made my cancer diagnosis. After quite some time with his nurse practitioner that actually is very competent in my opinion, the Doctor comes into the small exam room asks not one question looks at nothing, no exam, and starts tapping on his laptop and then states he is setting me up for cystiscopy and dialation at the hospital under general anesthetic.

I stoped him in his tracks and said I'm not having issues at this time and I'm definatly not going for dialstion that fails

In 6 months 80% of the time. He then said to me, that's your prerogative, but if you refuse , I won't be your Urologist. I got up and left the examination room, thanked the nurse practitioner for her help and left the office. I never heard back from the office. It's been two years, my PCP takes care of me.

. He then said to me, that's your prerogative, but if you refuse , I won't be your Urologist.

Seems very unprofessional. You have the right to refuse medical treatment. He should have explained why he wanted the tests, risk benefits of not doing it, and respected your decision. And recommended alternatives. He was an ass who felt threatened he was being questioned.

I refused a cystoscopsy and my urologist said ok, here’s things you should look for and give me a call if you have worsening issues or changes. See me again in 6 months .

The problem to me was when he diagnosed my penile cancer, 6 months earlier he had just done a cystiscopey and biopsy. He then said he couldn't perform the surgery and I needed to go to one of two specialists that could perform the surgery, neither close to where I live. Part of my surgery had failed, but I was doing well. Being the surgeon was not in close proximity and this doctor operated in our local hospital, my PCP thought it would be a good idea to see a local urologist just as a precautionary measure. My PCP recomended occasional intermittent catherization to keep the strictures caused by the surgery open. So far two and a half years post-op. Everything is well. I'm 76 years old, I'm not doing anything that isn't absolutely necessary.

So far two and a half years post-op. Everything is well. I'm 76 years old, I'm not doing anything that isn't absolutely necessary.

Glad that things have resolved! Ultimately, you’re in charge of what medical care you recieve or accept. Listen to the options, assess the risk and make your own decisions. Still think that doctor was an ass for the way he dismissed you!

I've never walked out of an exam, but there's one I should have.

I'm overweight. Not enormously, not unhealthy. At the time, my blood pressure, cholesterol, blood labs, and everything else was within normal range, except for slightly elevated liver enzymes, which can be caused by fatty liver disease.

Without asking me anything about my dietary or exercise habits, this doctor told me I was wasting his time and that I should eat half as much and exercise twice as much. That morning I'd run five miles and eaten one apple.

It was years ago, and I'm still angry at his insensitivity and boorish behavior. Now I think I'd probably say something, then walk out.

Boorish is too kind a word @PinotNoir . Asshole would be more appropriate

I did walk out of a dentist chair one time after too long without anyone coming in to tell me anything about the long wait.

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I accompanied my wife to her annual physical exam with a new female doctor. The doctor asked my wife all the regular questions about her health and then prepared to do my wife’s pelvic exam. My wife put her legs in the stirrups, the doctor sat in the front row seat for the best view and best access, and I positioned myself in my standard position behind the doctor looking over her left shoulder to get the second-best view and the second-best turn on.

Just before lifting the paper gown to reveal my wife’s bits, the doctor said to me, “And you go stand at the other end by your wife’s head.”

I was too shocked to say anything and just did what the doctor ordered. If I had taken a moment to think, I would have said, “No, thank you. I’ll just stay right here. You can go stand at the other end by my wife’s head and I’ll take care of the pelvic exam.”

I mean, c'mon. What did the lady doctor think I was going to do? Start panting and pointing out the bits of my wife's pelvic anatomy?

If it had been easier for my wife to extricate herself from the stirrups, my wife and I would have walked out, but as it was, with her legs all up in the air and everything, we let the doctor finish her exam and then we left, but we never went back.

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@Vasbyt - I instincly would had said "No worries Doc it isn't anything I haven't seen before, and from even closer than you are."

My sub was in the ER because of possible pneumonia. We'd been there for a number of hours, with no real answer yet. He was ready to just walk out, but the nurse kindly informed him that insurance would not cover the ER visit if he did. He wasn't happy, but sat there and waited for a diagnosis and treatment (which was 8 hours of ER waiting, a return home with meds, and specific instructions on improvement or should things get worse to quickly return).

@Vasbyt - I instincly would had said "No worries Doc it isn't anything I haven't seen before, and from even closer than you are."

@edwasss lol. Yes, I wish I would’ve had some quick, snappy comeback right at the moment. Now I’ll have to think of all the things I could have or should have said.

Does anybody have any snappy, sarcastic comebacks to the doctor’s demand?

Does anybody have any snappy, sarcastic comebacks to the doctor’s ridiculous demand?

@Vasbyt It is probably that doctors standard procedure to have "guests" stand at the patients head. Who wants questions or comments while they are trying to make sure all is well in the gynecological area of their patient. Time is money so no distraction is best.

@MissStress good point! That is the only time a doctor has ever asked me not to look over the shoulder, and I have been in that position dozens of times with all the pelvic exams with four pregnancies and other visits to the doctor. And you are right. Whenever I am standing there, enjoying the proceedings, I have always had questions or comments just because I am curious and fascinated with medical procedures and all things medical so I tend to distract the doctor and I can see how a doctor would maybe want to keep the exam moving forward rather than answering my curiosity questions. I should have asked her why she wanted me to move away.

My wife and I both felt she instructed me to move because she thought I would be ogling my wife and getting turned on by the medical procedure with my wife in her compromised position and she felt it was inappropriate for me to be looking at my wife’s private parts, in spite of my being the husband and having seen them all before.

My wife and I both felt she instructed me to move because she thought I would be ogling my wife and getting turned on by the medical procedure with my wife in her compromised position and she felt it was inappropriate for me to be looking at my wife’s private parts, in spite of my being the husband and having seen them all before.

The uncharitable and mean-minded assumption. Typical I guess for our day and age. Always assume the worst explanation first.

Never walked out of an examination, but have avoided one. Was supposed to get a genital exam by my GP but he went on holiday.

It was a junior female doctor standing in. She asked why I was there and I told her my allergies.

Never walked out of an examination, but have avoided one. Was supposed to get a genital exam by my GP but he went on holiday.

It was a junior female doctor standing in. She asked why I was there and I told her my allergies.

I'd of told her exactly why! 😉

A few years ago I went to my doctor because of a broken toe. I was able to get an appointment the following day at the Ortho clinic. My doctor prescribed some pain medicine to ease my discomfort. Here is how it played out.

Arrival: On time. Wait time before getting called in: 10 minutes. Med Tech obtains my vitals, instructs me to remove my shoes and socks. I was advised the NP would be with me shortly.

Wait time: 20 minutes. NP arrives and assessed the injury and informs me the bone should be reset (ugh) but wants a doctor's insight first. NP leaves.

22 minutes later the doctor arrives, concurs with NP's diagnosis and they both exit.

15 minutes later the NP returns and says "We are almost ready to conduct the procedure, let's check your vitals again. " BP, Pulse and Respiration: Elevated.

NP: "We need to get you relaxed before we begin. Could you tell me why you are so nervous.?" Me: "You informed me almost an hour ago you were probably going to have to reset the bone in my toe. Maybe, just maybe you should have not told me that before the doctor diagnosed me and when the doctor FINALLY got around to getting here YOU should have been prepared to finish the work immediately but instead both of you left me here to worry, now you ask me why I am so nervous.? "

I got my socks and shoes back on and I disappeared faster than a blond at the Bates Motel. Uh, ok that last remark was an exaggerated humorous ancedote. I didn't actually walk out, I gimped out.

A few months later I went in for my annual physical. My doctor was reviewing my file and asked me why I declined treatment for the broken toe. I explained the poor service and lack of consideration regarding my needs. She understood and she even apologized for not sending me to the ER immediately then examined my toe and said although it has healed that it didn't heal properly and my toe had a Quasimodo thing going on and if I was ok with the aesthetic Faux Pas that I would probably be ok as it was not bothering even me during my running workouts.