Dr. Peterson stepped in on short notice to help my family with an urgent matter regarding care for my mother. She was right up to speed on the issues and made us feel confident that the matter would be taken care of as quickly as possible. Great relief for us! Thank you Dr. Peterson!

I recently had an appointment with Katharine E. Peterson, M.D., and unfortunately, I left feeling very uncomfortable and upset by the experience.

I went in needing a refill of a medication that I have been prescribed for years and use very rarely, at the lowest dosage. I understand that a doctor has the right to decide whether or not they are comfortable prescribing a particular medication. My concern was not simply that Dr. Peterson declined to prescribe it, but the manner in which she questioned me and spoke to me about it.

Her tone and line of questioning made me feel as though she assumed I was misusing or abusing the medication rather than a patient who has used it responsibly and very infrequently for years. I felt judged and distrusted, and her bedside manner made an already uncomfortable conversation much worse.

I left the appointment feeling terrible about the interaction. Even when a physician disagrees with a patient’s request or decides not to prescribe a medication, I believe that conversation can and should be handled with empathy, respect, and without making the patient feel ashamed for asking.