Dr. Hapani's office called my previous oncologist to get my records as is required before being able to make an appointment with a new patient. After the office received my records, as they requested, I called them this past Tuesday to make my appointment. My appointment was being set up for next week, or so I thought. After I told the office receptionist that I am deaf and need a ASL interpreter she said they do not provide interpreters as they need to bring their own interpreters. I explained to her that ADA law requires doctors to provide interpreters for their deaf patients. She explained that they are a small office and cannot afford to provide interpreters every time a deaf person requests one.

Even though it's legal requirement for doctors to provide ASL interpreters for their deaf patients, I decided to NOT make an issue of this, primarily because Dr. Hapani was able to see me next week which is one of the reasons I chose to see Dr. Hapani. Also, because I'm in a considerable amount of pain I told them not to worry about it as I will bring my own interpreter. At this point the receptionist put me on hold.

To make a long story short, surprisingly the doctor actually came on the phone to talk to me. He said he can't see me for four months and told me to go to OU and get seen by someone there. I told him that his receptionist already had planned to schedule an appointment for me to see him next week, so how could it be that he couldn't see me for four months? We went back and forth until it finally it became obvious that he simply did not feel comfortable dealing with a deaf patient, even though I was willing to bring my own interpreter at my own expense.

Dr. Hapani made if clear when talking to me on the phone that he refused to see me because he was "too busy". He outright lied to me because the receptionist was already scheduling me for next week. I told Dr. Hapani that this is outright discrimination and his refusal to see me after finding out I was deaf was very hurtful to me. He had no response to my comment.

I'm surprised that a doctor with so many good reviews would lack honesty. He may be a great doctor, however, his true character came out during our phone conversation. The only positive thing I can say about my experience with Dr. Hapani is, I'm glad I didn't get an appointment with someone who lacks integrity and discriminates against deaf people. What often is in the heart of man comes out of his mouth.

It sincerely saddens me to share this information publicly about my experience with Dr. Hapani and his office. However, if you are a person who is deaf, or maybe has other physical disabilities, you may want to think twice before making appointment with this doctor. My desire is not to bring harm to this doctor by writing this review. I truly that hope he reads this review and upon further reflection realizes the hurt he's caused me (and maybe others with disabilities) by rejecting me on the basis of my deafness. He surely made me feel "less than". It never feels good to feel "less than" no matter how many times it happens.

Submitted Nov. 3, 2023