Patient
Dr.Tucciarone has a good personality/ bedside manner and extended my life with two stents after my heart attack 8 years ago. Notably made me suspend my DNR for him to even work on me. Not something I did lightly and only did after listening to a trusted doctor with 50 years of experience, hours later. That delay put my health at greater risk. Fortunately the Doctor said there was no damage to my heart. The year after I had to return for another stent. A bit over a year ago I had some issues and underwent catherization with him. Prior to this Dr. Tucciarone had advised me there was risk with this procedure. I advised him that if I suffered Cardiac arrest he was only authorized to do CPR for 3 and a half minutes whereas brain damage may likely occur at 5 minutes. The morning of that procedure, just before leaving my room a Nurse shoved a document under my face and asked me to sign authorizing Full CPR. I told the Nurse this had been discussed with the Doctor. I accepted her pen and wrote Full CPR for only 3 and a half minutes. That day the Catheterization was unsuccessful. I was later referred to a Heart Surgeon by Dr. Tucciarone within the same Hospital system. Later I met with that Surgeon, who wanted to do Triple bypass surgery. My research revealed it carried a 6% chance of negative outcomes specifically a 3 % chance of Death on the operating table and a 3% chance of a stroke. The Surgeon with over 20 years of experience, claimed that he had a Death rate on the table of 1% ,and risk of stroke 3%, The Surgeon added that people recover from strokes. I was later told by a competent medical professional that roughly only 25% of stroke victims recover. To me either way the consequence of potential negative outcomes was too high. Quality of life is everything to me. Notably the Surgeon could not tell me how long I could live if I chose to do nothing. I opted not to have surgery. Presently, I can walk 6 miles in 88 minutes with elevation changes and Bike the same six miles in 31 minutes. Over a year later. More recently,I had to return to Dr. Tucciarones Office to obtain clearance for a relatively risk free Hernia operation. My vitals were checked all within the normal range, I was given an EKG which I passed with flying colors. Yet, Dr.Tucciarone insisted on a stress test before giving his approval. He said the hospital wouldnt permit a hernia operation without a Stress test. Just who sets policy? At that time I reviewed our history with him about his insistence on dropping my DNR upon my first heart attack for him to work on me and the unsuccessful catheterization when I limited CPR efforts to three and a half minutes. Stone faced Dr.Tucciarone responded stepping forward stating we/ they "have their policies and procedures". Just whose interests do these licensed Medical Professionals reallty serve? Self dealing? No time was available for the stress test at the time I was there. Later I was advised there was an opening at another office of Eastlake. I made the appointment then cancelled it after speaking to another medical professional. I decided to seek medical treatment elsewhere rather than enriching them further. Questions remain as to whether this Doctor or the Hospital System respects the decisions of patients concerning their Medical Treatment. I think it is terrible this Doctor and possibly the Hospital System would coerce me into a very risky, very expensive heart procedure, where I find the possible negative outcomes greater than its benefits before approving a relatively minor operation given a normal EKG and vitals that would improve the quality of my life. Yet push a risky heart operation. Questions remain as whether Dr. Tucciarone, the Group practice or Hospital truly respects their patients rights/ limits, whether their purpose, is money, to cherry pick their patients in an effort to bolster their statistics ( survivsbilty even if it leaves a patient in what might be a state of misery or living death) and appear to be superior to other Doctors or Hospital Systems.