Absolutely nasty rude insulting. Should not be practicing medicine at all not even in the worst prison on the planet

Submitted July 15, 2017

I thought long and hard about writing this review on Dr. Lavinia Suciu from Bach & Godofsky. I know what reviews can do to one’s reputation, and many times they are misused, unfair and exaggerated. So I allowed myself to calm down and not allow anger and disappointment to be the motive for this review.

I met Dr. Lavinia Suciu the morning after being admitted at Manatee Memorial Hospital and right away, her demeanor was dismissive and condescending. The lack of interest in my questions after she notified me that my condition could be life-threatening and commented that “you are going to have to wrap your head around the idea that this is going to be a 4 to 6 months process”, was upsetting and daunting beyond belief.

Throughout my treatment at Manatee Memorial and afterwards with the prescribed infusions for 6 weeks, Dr. Suciu seemed annoyed at every question and need for explanation I had. This was not only with me, I heard from other patients of hers that were in the same “Day Surgery Center” where infusions are administered, that her behavior and treatment was the same with them.

After going through an open heart surgery last August with some complications, which led to my infection, I had interaction with many Doctors of different specializations. Their bedside manner varied for each Doctor, but none of them was as poor and down right mean as Dr. Suciu’s. They were all professional, accessible and caring in different levels.
I understand she may be a “good” physician, but her treatment is what I can only describe as poor and borderline hurtful, without exaggeration.

She has a reputation throughout reviews online in Health Grades and other websites that consistently match my experience.

Even with her attitude, I continued the treatment and finished my infusions only to be told not to call her if I had any complications or the condition returned. She even wrote this on her "physician notes" in my file.
Once the treatment was completed, I sought the help of another Infectious Disease Doctor that is not associated with Back & Godofsky or Dr. Suciu, to get a second opinion on her treatment. The new Doctor could not believe that there was no study or culture done on the bacteria before the treatment was started, she couldn’t understand how I could have been dismissed without a final CT scan for comparison wit the first one, and that “my previous doctor” had ordered Rocephin without identifying precisely the type of bacteria. When she asked who this doctor was and I replied with Dr. Suciu’s name, her face changed immediately with an expression that could only be read as “of course”. Turns out my new ID Doctor used to work with Dr. Suciu. I didn’t have to tell her about my bad experience, she immediately knew it. Same thing with my general practitioner.

I think Dr. Suciu is a “good” doctor, but her poor bedside manner affects the entire patient-doctor experience in a very negative way. I believe that the doctor’s attitude and accessibility is crucial on a patient’s healing process.

Horatio Franco
Parrish, FL

Submitted Jan. 27, 2015