YOUR CHILD IS DEFECTIVE!
Today was my third and possible last ever visit to HEALTHSPRINGS koparkhairane outlet. I’ve faced issues with waiting period and the doctor relying on google to give information more than her expertise. However today was the last nail in the coffin so to say. As an individual i’m extremely disappointed in the level of incompetence this particular healthcare professional had and showed today. Her name is Dr Kavita Parkar.
While practo claims she is a paediatrician - apparently she’s the only doctor handling all the patients at that clinic most of whom are not children.
_
There’s a Healthsprings clinic in Koparkhairane, one of many across Mumbai. This particular Koparkhairane branch seems to have only one doctor who’s doubling as a physician, diabetes specialist and mind you - as paed. Her name is Dr. KavitaParkar and she claims to have 19 yr experiences as a PAED on Practo. Looking at this Ppracto info we approached her and have been disappointed on all three occasions - today being the most.
For starters - clinics don’t ask paediatricians to double up and treat general patients - cause kids are a specialty. And they need special and immediate attention. Today my little one and I waited for over 1 hour because she was too busy treating adult patients - some who came after us. Now I mark #Healthsprings down on this - you should have a multiple physicians when you claim to be a multi-speciality clinic. Let me not waiver.
After convincing an already tired 2 yr old(we went post her morning playgroup) to sit for an hour her question to me is: what’s her problem now" I said no problem. We’ve come for a routine check up and for vaccine updates.
Instead of focussing on her diagnosis and check up - which I had to tell her what all I want her to check. That was trigger 1. Why do I need to inform a 19yr tenured paed what I mean by routine check up of a 2 yr old. Has she never done one before.
This woman is bad with children. They scream at her and she just wants them to go. She asked me to check my daughter’s weight. she asked me to put her near the tape and check her height. She even asked me to hold the pulse tablet cause she can’t do it. Ultimately, I had to play with her stethoscope and hold it to tavasya’s chest. Not that Dr. KavitaParkar was able to tell me if her heartbeat is good.
My tired kid was looking around everywhere and had tuned out into her own chatter. Sometimes when she is really tired she squints cause she’s struggling to watch everything. Cause this pediatrician was making her uncomfortable, my kid started counting, reciting her abc and then started point to colors she could identify - so far she knows 3- 4 colours. Now any paed would be glad that the kid can do this. And Dr KavitaParkar was too when she asked does she eat mud/plastic etc - and I said no. She’s not much of a floor crap eater.
Then I asked her - all good? she says, yeah I don’t know. ME: I’m sorry?
Dr. Kavita Parkar: I mean I don’t know.
ME: okay, ( smiled) asked politely - can you sign this medical form for her school application that says she physically fine and normal.
Dr Kavita Parkar: No I cannot give her a fitness certificate because see - she’s defective. She’s little slow and deaf also
ME: WHAT? did you just say shes DEFECTIVE? Me, getting up to leave - okay, I am alright if you don’t wish to sign it but you just heard her point out colors and count - if she was defective and slow how would she pick up on these sounds and speak.
Dr Parkar: No, she she’s squinty. that’s a sign she’s not normal. I cannot give a certificate. Tomorrow what if she cannot understand what they teach in school because she’s looking defective to me.
Me: DEFECTIVE? did you just call her defective again?
Dr Parkar: Checking an article on google on how to get babies to react’ She is defective see .( taps a pen on the counter as suggested by the article) Tavasya doesn’t turn to her -( because which 2 yrs old is STILL fascinated by simple tapping?)
See so much I’m tapping the pen she’s not turning to me.
Me: You can’t expect her to turn to every sound that everybody makes. Call her Tavu, tap the pen and she will come giggling to take it. Again, Dr Parkar did you call my daughter defective?
Then I got up once more and said, you know what its alright I don’t need you to give the certificate. But what do you diagnose as the reason for this SLOW behavior.
Dr Parkar: I don’t know I’m not a specialist.( then what is she?)
Me: And what about the squint, Do you recommend an ophthalmologist.
Dr Parkar: Yes, they will put an eye patch on her and do something to fix the squint after that I will give a certificate. ME: That’s okay, forget the certificate. What’s this about an eye patch, she’s not blind right. Nor is she squinting consistently - it’s a rare occurrence. Anyways, which ophthalmologist can I go to?
Dr Parkar: Look up google. You will find many eye doctors. I’m not a specialist on this matter
Me: Aren’t you a child specialist? You cant recommend anyone to me or tell me whats wrong with my kid. Then I’m in the wrong place. I thought you have experience with children but here you are calling her defective like a toy. What kind of a professional says that. And why are you registered on practo as paed when you have no kid patient handling experience. You’re asking me to do everything even check her mouth by opening it. We waited 1 hour to meet the pediatrician who was busy with only adults consulting.
Dr Parkar: You are getting egoistic and ignoring your defective child,
Me: No I’m ignoring an incompetent physician who doesn’t know how to treat children. Nor does she know how to talk to their parents. You are googling information more than me.
I then left #healthsprings, with my tired kid. Took her home fed her milk and then took her to consult another pediatrician. He asked me for any odd symptoms I have noticed as im a primary caregiver - assured me occasional squinty eyes are the child’s curiosity to take in the whole world all at once even when she’s tired and will stop in a few months. He checked her weight, her height, her teeth, her temperature, told me she looks tired and hyper cranky - she needs to rest. And mind you she yelled at him too. But he didn’t call her defective.
We need to rid Navi Mumbai of such healthcare pretenders.