Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Reviews and Complaints

I am a injured worker navigating the workers compensation system and have elected Cedars Sinai Dr. Fariborz Kharrazi as my qualified medical examiner. I feel I have received unfair treatment from Dr.Kharrazi and he does not have my best interests at heart. I was diagnosed with an incurable illness that can result in paralysis, blindness and deafness if left untreated. My diagnostic testing showed fractures, hytrophy, joint separation, bulging discs, spinal chord injuries and cervical spine injuries with recommendation for follow up treatment. Dr. Kharrazi did not issue a disability impairment rating in the final QME report or any causation for my numerous injuries and incurable illness. I strongly feel he has neglected my health. I am fearful that I may have a more serious illness such as cancer or an auto immune disease.

On Tuesday June 27, 2023 at 7:30 am Dr. Daniel C. Allison performed a sarcoma resection to remove a cancerous tumor from my lower left leg. I went into post operative recovery around 11 am and they kept my pain reasonably under control with a drip IV pain medication delivery until around 5 pm when I was transferred to room 7004. Dr. Allison had preoperatively told me several times that I was to be kept overnight so that I could continue to receive IV drip pain medication. This did not happen. Sara Mills RN came on shift at 7 pm. I asked her what the doctor's medical orders for pain medication were. She responded, Oxycodone 5 or 10 mg by mouth every six hours, plus a breakthrough as needed. I knew immediately, and I told her immediately that that was not going to be sufficient to prevent significant pain. I told her that I needed it needed to be every four hours. She simply replied, "That has to be ordered by a doctor, there's nothing I can do about it." In a demeaning tone of voice that made it clear that she simply didn't care at all how much pain I was in. She then turned and walked out.

As the hours wore on, I was in increasing pain, an 8 or 9; I also was vomiting repeatedly, seven times. I told her repeatedly, at least a dozen times, that I was my pain was an 8 or 9. Yes, she did give me the pain medication according to the medical orders; but, she did nothing to change the doctors orders unless I begged her. She simply hid behind the excuse that they're nothing I can do about it. I asked her repeatedly, I lost count of how many times I asked her if she had gotten a response from the medical team. Each time she responded in a put out, exasperated, condescending tone that made clear that I was simply bothering her, and that she simply didn't care. As best I can remember, the first time I asked, as I already said, she didn't even respond. The second time, she said she called the medical team and left a message. The third time, I asked she said that she hadn't heard back. The fourth time, she said, she still hadn't heard back and it was late. The fifth time I asked, she said, "Oh they're notoriously hard to get a hold of." By about 3 am I was vomiting for the seventh time, I pressed my call button requesting help, and again had to wait half an hour for a response. Nurse Mills finally came in. She said in a clearly exasperated tone, "What is it now?" I told her that I was vomiting and in pain and begged her for help, and asked about the medical orders. She responded in a rude, condescending tone, "Look, I have other patients." Turned and walked out. It wasn't until 15 hours after Nurse Sara Mills came on shift, that at 4 am Wednesday she came in and said that the medical team had changed the orders and gave me adequate pain medication.

Dr. Allison had assured me, "We don't want you in pain, we want you comfortable, we are going to keep you comfortable." That certainly didn't happen. I was in the worst pain and agony of my life for at least 15 hours or more (I was also in 8 or 9 pain in post op). My nickname for Nurse Mills was the Torture Chamber Mistress. She simply didn't care at all about how much pain I was in. She made it clear, that to her, I was just an unwanted nuisance that she didn't want to bother with. On a scale of 1-10, I would give Sara Mills RN a -5. I couldn't imagine a worse nurse.

I have an 86 yr old cousin (Elizabeth Ince)@ Kennedy Care Ctr.
She's been a resident @ Kennedy since February 26, 2023
May 10, 2023 2:43PM I called Kennedy and asked to speak to Elizabeth's Doctor.

May 10, 2023 7:10PM I received a call from Louiza Gavshanyan, NP (Cedars-Sinai). She identified herself as the primary person on the "team" that is monitoring my Cousin Elizabeth @ Kennedy. We spoke for at least 25 minutes, and Louiza was very helpful in letting me know what my cousins status was.

She said that she was taking a short vacation and would return on./about May 16-17, 2023. If I had any further questions I should feel free to call her voice mailbox (310.712.9506) and she would return my call.

May 18 @ 4:22PM I called Louiza, and left a vm for her to call me.
May 21 @ 2:32PM I called Louiza, and left a vm for her to call me.
May 21 @8:51PM I rec'vd a call from "Garmaine" who said she worked with Louiza, and was responding in Louiza's stead. I said that I appreciated her call-back, but I'd prefer to speak with Louiza. "Garmaine" saoid she'd pass the message along to Louiza.

May 23 @ 7:14PM I called Louiza, and left a vm for her to call me.
As of this writing I have never heard from Louiza, and am astounded at the discourtesy.

Thank You,
Michael Gould
[protected]@gmail.com
914.643.5020 mobile

Today I tried to make an appointment with my primary care physician, Dr. Vanessa Solomon only to discover that her next opening isn't until DECEMBER!

This situation has gotten worse over the past few years. Current patients are made to wait months for an appointment, yet, these doctors continue to take NEW patients. I used to think Cedars and its medical groups were great; however that opinion has dropped drastically now.

One way to solve this issue is for doctors to STOP taking in new patients, at least until their schedules open up. So, now I have to see a new doctor who I don't know, and who doesn't know me, all the way in Culver City. Really? Luckily I am not so sick that I can't drive or that wouldn't be a possibility.

What is the solution to these 6-month wait times? You have some of the brightest people there and surely those bright minds can figure out a solution.

When I first started my process with Dr. Abbasi, she was extremely helpful and gave me hope for my condition. She ran all of the necessary tests and then made a plan for my treatment. My condition requires a very specific and expensive antibiotic that most insurance won't cover unless your doctor sends the necessary test results. My treatment by Dr. Abbassi and her team has been extremely disappointing.

-They never sent my test results to my insurance so they kept denying my claim for the anti-biotic I needed and we couldn't figure out why until I called my insurance multiple times and finally got helpful information.

-When I proceeded to tell Dr. Abbasi's team, there was barely an apology and they told me they would send the results and I needed to keep waiting.

-I was ultimately denied this antibiotic so they prescribed me a different one so I could start my treatment (this is a month after my diagnosis).

-I was left a voicemail with instructions on how to take my antibiotics but was given no written instructions. I found out I had taken the antibiotics incorrectly after I called them and told them I needed to pick up my second antibiotic. They proceeded to tell me I was supposed to be taking both at the same time.

-I eventually picked up the second antibiotic and took it. I then called them again and told them I was feeling the exact same. They told me I needed to give it a couple weeks.

-I called them this past Wednesday (3 weeks later) and told them I am still feeling the exact same. They told me Dr. Abbasi would call me with next steps for my treatment. It is now the following Tuesday and I was offered an opening for a video call appointment on Thursday...

-I do think Dr. Abbasi is a good doctor as far as her knowledge but the lack of care and attention she gives to her patients who are suffering is extremely disappointing.

-Dr. Abbasi and her team have truly made me feel like they don't care about the well-being of their patients at all. They do the bare minimum treatment to say they treated you and send you on your way.

-If you are suffering from gastric conditions, you know how miserable day to day life is and I wish Dr. Abbasi and her team did more to help me. Unfortunately I do not recommend them. They didn't follow up once and they are very difficult to get a hold of.

I have diabetes and was running low on my prescription. I contacted her office on Monday to let her know a week before I ran out. I ended up having to wait until Friday for her to finally send the prescription over. When she did, it was the wrong prescription and her office was closed for the weekend. I ran out on Sunday night and had to wait until Monday morning to reach out to her office again. I emailed her and called her office and her staff promised me that the correct prescription would be called in that day. Nothing has been done and I have been without my prescription going on almost 2 day. She has been unresponsive and is unconcerned about my health. I would hate for this to happen to anyone else.

Hello,

I am reporting Dr. Alkasspooles. I have suffered from chronic UTI’s and pain. The doctor and I have been talking for a few months and simply no antibiotic has been working. Sometimes, the uti doesn’t show up on culture or analysis which I thought he understood that. We tried several rounds of antibiotics and I talked to him on the phone about going to the hospital to do iv antibiotics since nothing was helping and I was in so much pain. I get to the hospital but unfortunately my analysis showed normal but I told him on the phone that happens to me sometimes even when I do have a UTI. I expressed the pain and symptoms which all are a UTI And he knew I had a positive culture recently. As I called him on the phone and told him these things, he proceeded with “if you think you’re a doctor so bad find someone else” as I already drove 2 hours to this hospital for him because he told me he would help. He then told me “there’s nothing I can do for you and to stop calling” “since you want to diagnose yourself find a different doctor” even though we both have known my recent culture has showed positive for a UTI. He first lied to me about telling me he will help me once I get to the emergency room, then he made me legit cry out of rudeness and negligence. I’m already going through a lot of being sick every day as a 25 year old, but to have doctors that refuse to help me and say hurtful things when I’m trying to simply tell them to listen to my symptoms is just not fair.

I also want to report the doctor at the emergency room. I am not sure of her name but maybe you can look it up in my chart. She was African American younger with longer hair. Her advice for me was to drink “8 glasses of water” for heeling an infection that obviously needs fixed with the proper medication. She also refused to listen to my symptoms when I discussed to her that my UTI’s don’t always show on my analysis and culture. Then, when I asked for pain medicine she offered me Tylenol which you don’t think I’ve tried that at home? I came to the emergency room to manage my main(which was left even worse) and to get the proper iv antibiotics that I needed and they refused to listen to me. Refused to listen to my symptoms and instead trusted an analysis that has shown many times to be inaccurate. It’s very sad to pay thousands of dollars for a doctor to make you feel worse. I really want both doctors and many doctors to learn about newer research of UTI’s and to understand.I would like an apology.

Jenna DeMaio

8.23.1997

Emergency room visit : Jan 15th at 12pm

My name is Andrea McNichol, a contributor to Cedars, and I have been a patient of an office in Cedars Sinai link for over 40 years, listed above. After Dr. Phil Brooks retired, I saw Dr. Matthew Guiles in this same office. Then Dr. Guiles changed practices. When I called for an appt. with Dr. Guiles, I was told he was no longer there and they would not tell me where Dr. Guiles had moved. Then, I needed two prescriptions renewed by Dr. Guiles and when the pharmacy called the office for the renewals, they were told Dr. Guiles was no longer there and they could not give out any more information! WHY IS THIS?!

I called the office and begged them to renew the prescriptions and was told someone would get back to me but no one ever did. After hours of sleuthing on the internet, I finally located Dr. Guiles at his new location. Cigna, my prescription insurance carrier, refused to change the phone number for Dr. Guiles and said I had to contact Dr. Guiles who would then contact Cigna. THIS ISN'T RIGHT!

How can this happen? I am no longer going to contribute to Cedars if I do not hear back about this complaint. This is unacceptable, unprofessional and leaves the patient hanging without recourse.

I'm writing to file a complaint about the unethical and unfathomable behavior of Dr. Tirmizi, who refused to see my Mother, a cancer patient. My mom is visiting from Florida and had to have emergency surgery at Cedars. She has out-of-state insurance that covers any procedure or consultation here in California. I had my Mother's insurance company send three different authorization forms stating they would cover all costs. We even had my Mom's doctor call and speak with Dr. Trimizi about the severity and importance of him seeing my Mom.

Still, after all this, Dr. Trimizi refused to see my Mother if we did not pay cash upfront and refused to use her insurance company even though we jumped through hoops to make it happen. We have other Doctors within Cedars, including an Oncologist, who has agreed to see my Mom and take her out-of-state insurance, which will cover all incurring fees/costs. I'm disgusted to think a doctor like Dr. Tirmizi represents a place like Cedars -Sinai and refuses to see an emergency patient because he cares more about upfront cash than the life of a human being.

I request Cedars- Sinai to abolish their contract with this horrible doctor who has no concern for a patient's life or welfare. Dr. Tirmizi DOES NOT represent what we have come to know from the Cedars family and should be penalized and removed from any affiliation. Shame on Dr. Tirmizi. Cedars Sinai, please hold him accountable for this inhumane and unethical behavior. This is a very bad look for such a wonderful hospital.

I am a patient of Dr Timothy Daskivich and am writing to express my disgust at his poor, nonexistent, patient follow up service.

I contacted his office, via his CS Link, on June 27 as I was losing blood through my penis, which I would regard as an emergency. Two days later his office called, and I explained the situation.

They did not follow this up so I wrote to him again on his CS link June 29 and received no response.

I then telephoned his office on June 30 and was told they would get back to me with an urgent appointment.

I am disgusted that anyone in the medical profession should take this stance and ignore a potentially serious situation which could be life-threatening.

I writing to you to make this a formal complaint and I will also be posting this on as many websites as I can.

Victor Green

[protected]

[protected]@victorgreen. tv

Doctor ordered an MRI at 9:00pm. Waited in a hospital bed in the hallway until 5:30am. That’s when they told me they messed up and never put the MRI order in. Told me it would be a 2-3 hour wait from that point. They do not care about the patient.

The intake person was rude, and the director Joe was equally rude, and I believe there was racism as I'm a Black male who was asking for a point fo clarification, and had to get my answer from a nurse sitting next to the intake person. I witnessed Joe talking to her before he walked over to me, and was within 2 feet of my face, and was looking down at me and his his tone was harsh. He kicked me out of the ER space and told me that he was going to remove me from the property, and pointed me out to the security as if I was a menace. My mother has been a patient at Cedar for over 12 years, and I've never had one negative experience until now. I tried to describe my mothers condition as she's non verbal, and they said they did triage in the ambulance and her vitals were stable and she had to wait as there were other people who were prioritized based on their condition. I told them she had been neglected and without her medications and antibiotic for 48 hours. She has stage 4 pressure wound that turned to sepsis. Discharged from Cedar 4/6/2022

I was going in the building on 5/12/22 as am walking to the elevator. Security guard approached me and ask me where I was going I told him upstairs I have an appointment. He told me do you have an ID I told him why do I need to show him my ID what is the issue he said we are not allowing protestors in the building I told him I don’t work for cedars the security guard was very loud with his ton of voice and rude I left and cancel my appt

I don’t appreciate how true security rude he was I’m a patient and I didn’t need this type of harassment.

I came in for visiting hours on 2.6.22 at around 1900, and while at the front desk checking in I was informed at I had to have the booster shot in order to visit, I checked your website and that was not one of the requirements listed to visit yet I was denied. I asked the girl that was sitting at the front checking people in to let me speak with a supervisor so that I could complain or at least get an explanation and what she did was give me the number for the unit secretary of 5 south, who was very rude and cut me off as soon as I started talking and when I proceeded to tell her not to do that she became very rude and hostile at which point I got upset with her and tried to explain to her that I can appreciate that they were doing a shift change and they were trying to do their job but was a again cut off from speaking and told that I was being hostile. At this point, yes I became very hostile because not only was I not being listened to, I was being passed around from person to people without getting what I asked for while was to speak to a supervisor. I asked for the name of the nurse manager and a phone number where I could reach that person only to be denied that told by the unit secretary "I'm not giving you nothing" and when I proceeded to speak was told "I will hand up on you if you don't stop being rude". Now I can understand that response but you get rude when you're being rude in return. I called the operator and explained my situation and asked to escalate the problem to patient relations was again I was not listened to because instead of doing as I asked the girl on the phone, Rachel or Rebecca I believe her name was, ignored everything I said and asked if I wanted the number to the unit when I clearly asked for a supervisor. I don't know if it is your policy to allow your employees to pass people around from person to person and prevent people from complaining or reporting their behavior and bad customer service but it really does seem like it is your policy to allow that. I also spoke with the nurse, Natasha, taking care of my dad about his diet and what he can have before even attempting to visit and bring him snacks because I wanted to be sure it fit with what they were doing. I followed what she said he could have went to the store and picked up items and when I asked to see if someone could come down and get them Natasha changed up what she said and told me that I couldn't bring anything when that clearly wasn't what you said earlier. I feel like once I started complaining then they starting lying and changing up what the said.

Your policy of Vaccine card in order to allow for visitation is not based on protecting your patients. Vaccinated people can still get Covid! Therefore they can still give it someone in ICU or other department. This is a policy based on political science and not health. If you were serious about protecting your staff and patients you would only allow visitations on negative Covid results because vaccinated or not, you can still get Covid. It is NOT your business if people are vaccinated or not otherwise. Unfortunately a vaccinated person will end up spreading the virus in your hospital and you will get a class actions suit as a result of your ineffective prejudicial policy. I pray for those that are in critical care and won't make it. Shame on you for your political science policy. If you cared you could even set up testing stations downstairs for immediate testing. The only way your vaccine cards would make a little sense was for the person wanting to visit a Covid patient but you don't even allow visitations for Covid patients - Because you know the Vaccine doesn't protect them? Shame on you. You don't leave room for people who have already had Covid and have immunity.

My original doctor of 10 years Dr. Goldstein retired at the location of Encino Cedars Sinai Medical Center so I had to see the new Dr. Julie Huynh.
Clearly was not the right fit and I have the right to change the doctor if I want to so I asked for another doctor for my next visit and I just got a phone call that I do not need an oncologist and they do not wanna except me as a patient anymore because I wanted to switch her out and they just want to refer me to a general doctor I am a cancer survivor and I do have to see the oncologist every six months this woman has no right and no fit to be a doctor and serve as an oncologist luckily
Of the conversation recorded on my voicemail because the same message has been left on my voicemail and I have that as a proof this woman is not fit to be a doctor she clearly has personal issues if somebody is not the right fit for her I need a callback number immediately [protected] if I have to hire a lawyer to make sure her license taken away from her I will.
Sheida Shoalehvar

Talked to patient on Sunday and she informed me the night shift nurse was upset she had a bowel movement and he hit her leg, applied restraints and did not clean her. Marilyn stated it was not until 6am Sunday (8/1/21)morning that another male nurse with a ponytail cleaned her up. When the mother arrived on Sunday morning to see the patient she was still in restraints with a bruise on her leg that clearly marks knuckles. Marilyn expressed her concern to me, her mother and the physical therapist that day. The mother has asked to speak to the charge nurse or Manager but her concerns have been dismissed. Critically ill patients are vulnerable and you can not permit any kind of physical mistreatment to occur. You can contact the victims mother Silvia Calderon at [protected]. The victims name is Marilyn Ibarra and is currently admitted to Room 6S50.

I am emailing to report harassment, cyber bullying and stalking that I am experiencing from one of your Registered Nurses on the ICU, Theresa Sharon Swinger.

Since the end of March 2021, this nurse has been continuously sending me unwanted messages on Instagram. I have blocked her accounts, but she continues to create new accounts just to send me messages. I have clearly told her to STOP following me and sending me messages, but she continues to bother me with annoying messages and posting exploitative pictures of my boyfriend without his consent and permission.

I have made a police report against her and I think it would behoove the reputation of your excellent medical facility to address this violent and problematic nurse who seems to not be in the right state of mind. Given this woman's demonstrated obsessive behavior, irrational and violence acts, I don't believe that she can be a suitable nurse, nor display an accurate representation of the high quality of health care professionals who work at Cedars Sanai.

I am also a healthcare professional and I refer clients to your hospital frequently. I want to be able to maintain a good relationship with your hospital system, but this Registered Nurse is misrepresenting the high standards of your health care system. I am afraid to refer my patients to your hospital if these are the type of nurses whom you allow to work there. I am sure of your vetting process to employ a Registered Nurse is impeccable, which is why I am sure that with that same caliber security you will investigate this woman.

I strongly request that you conduct a thorough investigation of this Registered Nurse, her unacceptable behavior and address it as soon as possible. The current climate of our society has put in question the integrity of our healthcare system as it relates to violence, harassment and intimidation. I am confident that your hospital system does not want to jeopardize its integrity to do good by its community. For that reason, I implore you to please investigate the nurse in question. I am happy to have a conversation and send you proof of the harassment and police report. I also plan to report this disturbing behavior to the Board of Registered Nursing because I strongly believe that her actions are unethical and it demonstrates that her judgement as a healthcare professional is impaired, as she put at risk the health and safety of the public, which is a clear transgression to the oath of beneficence and nonmaleficence that we all take as healthcare professionals.

This is my personal email. Feel free to email me back.
Feel free to call me at your earliest convenience: [protected]

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kimberly Navarro

This person is posting private information for someone's insurance info on social media site which i a violation of the company