An emergency room physician has been suspended after she was caught on video having an intense argument with a patient who claimed to be suffering from an anxiety attack during the encounter.
The patient, 20-year-old Samuel Bardwell, was sent to the hospital after suffering from an anxiety attack and passing out following his school's first summer basketball practice on June 11.
His father tells SFGate that Bardwell suffers frequently from anxiety attacks and has to take Klonopin, a sedative that treats panic disorders, to alleviate its symptoms. However, in the days leading up to the attack, Bardwell failed to take proper medication because his prescription had run out and he hadn't had time to refill it.
"We didn't know what the consequence of not taking the meds would be," said Bardwell's father, Donald.
What Happened At The Emergency Room
At the emergency room, they met a doctor named Beth Keegstra, who came in and introduced herself but never said her name, never asked Samuel's name, and "never really examined him," according to Donald.
Keegstra accused Bardwell of coming in for drugs then tried to shoo them both away, said Donald.
Keegstra referred to Samuel and Donald as "you people" and claimed she knew what they were in for — drugs. Donald asked her what she meant by "you people."
Encouraged by Samuel, who said he had "a feeling something is gonna happen," Donald proceeded to record the entire encounter and uploaded it to Facebook later on.
Concerned about his son's condition, Donald told Keegstra that Samuel could not inhale, and she gave a mocking, sarcastic response:
"He can't inhale!" said Keegstra. "Wow! He must be dead. Are you dead, sir? I don't understand, you are breathing just fine."
The video has been viewed 4.4 million times as of writing.
"This is how they treat black people in Los Gatos emergency room. SMH Everyone share this video. For the record this is my son," Donald posted on Facebook.
Doctor Removed From Work Schedule
El Camino Hospital has removed Keegstra from the work schedule, pending further investigation.
"Our number one priority is and always will be to serve our community with exceptional care and the utmost dignity and respect for all," the hospital said in a statement.
"Please know that we take this matter very seriously and the contracted physician involved has been removed from the work schedule, pending further investigation."
The Bardwells have contacted a lawyer and is considering taking legal action against the hospital, ABC News reports.
