I saw chris bergin twice. Both times he was professional. A bit rough around the edges but overall I was pleased with the time he spent with me without making me feel he had to rush to get to his next patient. That said, my reason for seeing bergin was for a complex spinal revision. He said he could "fix" me but with no guarantees. Since 2013, I've have 10 major surgeries; 6-7 on my spine and back. So this was daunting to say the least and I was extremely apprehensive to begin with. However, I decided to perform the surgery and scheduled surgery for 11-21-16. However, and this had never happened to me prior to a surgery, 10 days or so before the surgery I developed SEVERE anxiety, crying fits, loss of sleep, loss of appetite, nausea, and even vomiting. I labored over the surgery to the point I became paralyzed in fear. I called bergin on Saturday, 11-19, two days prior to surgery to hear his voice, console me and offer words of encouragement. Well, he did what he thought was his best to calm me in our phone call, but he clearly does and did not fully appreciate or comprehend the extreme level of stress and anxiety I was going through and let's just say he failed epically to help change the outcome. On Sunday, the day before surgery, I made the decision to cancel. It was not easy for me. I felt ashamed, weak willed, embarrassed - you name it I felt it. I called the OR at Lutheran and the nurses I spoke with were VERY professional and understanding. Offering me sedatives, someone to talk to, etc. I can't praise them enough for their professionalism. But that is where ALL professionalism ceased as bergin's true colors came out. I had told the nurses I would be more than happy to speak with the doctor and sure enough he did call me two hours later. However, instead of trying to salvage the surgery, I was at the end of the most horrific, unprofessional conduct, acerbic, haranguing tangent as bergin became completely unhinged and SHAMED, me BLAMED me, told me to pull my head out of my a$$ and how I hosed, yes "HOSED" his day and his patients by cancelling. "Now I have on open surgical spot" that I can't fill. Then he told me to get off drugs, implying that I was a recreational user of illicit narcotics (I am only on 8 Norco a day and Valium to help with back spasms). He said I screwed all the "representatives" involved with the case and now he had to ship back, literally, 15 crates!? He then told me to call him in 6 to 8 months and only then would he consider treating me. Please note, I was very contrite and apologetic during most of this berating but as he kept up his tirade, it became clear that I was clearly dealing with a lunatic with an MD after his name who clearly demonstrated he ONLY cares about himself. My jaw literally hit the floor listening to his non stop barrage of insults and how I "EFFED" up the entire surgical theater continuum. I have NEVER cancelled a surgery in my life. Not EVER. I could simply have not shown up on the day of surgery but that is NOT me. It's my body, my emotional state, and my prerogative to cancel a surgery for whatever reason. The audacity of bergin and his sickening lack of professional conduct is outright, severely unprofessional and NOBODY facing a surgery, much less a complex revision of the erector set that is my spine, should EVER have to listen to an alleged "professional" spew blame and fault and derogatory remarks from ANY physician. Bergin should be censured to the fullest extent. Not only have I suffered severe anxiety prior to the cancelled surgery, but his hysterical myopic disrespectful insult filled drivel has caused me EXTREME emotional stress and duress. Enough so that tort litigation is a serious and viable option. Do NOT see this man. I only wish I recorded his vitriol to prove what I've said here is the ABSOLUTE TRUTH!

Submitted Nov. 24, 2016