Ratings for Dr. Daniel Cowan
I was in the Victoria for Gallbladder surgery back in 2008 or 2009. It has taken me this long to write this. I had been in dire pain for months and finally was in Emergency and Dr. Cowan was assigned to me. Every time I saw him he changed his diagnosis. He was constantly asking what other dr's said. I laid a complaint through the patient advocate. I was assigned a battleship nurse who was brutal. I finally got my surgery. The Anesthesiologist, was shocked when I told him my story and assured me I would be ok. I was taken off pain meds the next morning at 6:30am. The Battleship nurse was to go to the pharmacy to get me orals but never came back. It appeared the other nurses were not allowed to attend me. The Anesthesiologist came by to check on me at approx 11:00am, found out I had no meds and took a strip off the nurses. The prescription had never been taken to the pharamcy. I called my husband, begged him to come get me, and will NEVER have Cowan again under any circumstances, nor will I go to the Victoria Hospital even if Dying.
Submitted July 11, 2014
I have been living with a lump in my upper back, directly behind my heart for the last 8 years. Everyone including my Family Doctor has felt it, infact it has grown to about the size off 2 loonies. You must press firmly to feel and find it because it is not on the skin, but inside. The pain is so bad from time to time that it radiates to the front and I have gone to the hospital thinking it was my heart ( based on the fact I have had 3 heart attacks ), but it was the lump in my back. After waiting some time to see this doctor, I went in and waited an hour in the waiting room I spent maybe 1 minute being lightly touched on my back and then another 4 minutes of Dr Cowan telling me there was nothing there, and then asked who told me there was something there. He completely dismissed the pain I told him I was in with the words, (Well maybe you should have an X-ray). So I thought he would book that but till this day I have not heard a thing and am still in pain.How did he get his licence?
Submitted Aug. 11, 2011
Don't waste your time with this General Surgeon. If you need a specialist-see a specialist. I waited 3 months for an apt with Dr Cowan. Arriving in his office with no receptionist but a "Take a Number and Wait" sign did not instill a sense of professionalism, nor did his clumsy attempt on the computer. He dismissed my symptoms & scheduled a test with a 5 month wait time. He then advised that my condition was a common & psychological & learn to live with it by seeking counseling. I spoke with a psychiatrist who recommended medical testing for my physical condition. Less than 3 weeks after my consult with Dr Cowan, I was admitted to emergency with severe pain, had an in hospital CT scan followed by emergency surgery which he described as "interesting" at my scheduled test with him 4 months later. He did not see me following this test and I waited 4 months for the results in which he provides a very different diagnosis, no treatment plan and a referral to another specialist.
Submitted March 25, 2010
Dr. Cowan performed colon cancer removal surgery on my father. The surgery went OK but after the surgery my dad was stuck with undissolvable stitches (which are still poking out of his skin 1 year later), a big painful scar and he had a life threatening infection. His colon and small intestine were leaking after the surgery (even though the small intestine was not supposed to be touched during surgery). Dr. Cowan had very poor bedside manner and seemed anxious to talk to the family about the surgery. The only positive is that he got my dad in quickly for surgery (but only performed a colonoscopy and did not do an MRI so he opened my dad up without knowing if the cancer had spread)and my dad said he was good at checking in on him at the hospital. Please do not use this doctor for surgery.
Submitted Jan. 5, 2010
The worse experience ever left with huge, painful scar. Weeks of homecare from infection. Please do not go to the **** of Winnipeg, refuse any referral to him, you will be glad you did.
Submitted May 7, 2009
I am very worried about my husband. 2 yrs ago, Cowan performed an appendectomy on him (never gave us a straight answer if it was even infected or not). his stapling was bad, my husband developed a terrible infection, now has a 13 inch long painful scar. Last october he was re-booked to see Cowan about what seems to be a hernia in the same spot. Cowan seemed "lost in space", inattentive, didn't know who performed the surgery (Even though HE DID), or where it was done, etc etc. Ran more tests, ordered a ct scan over 4 weeks ago, said someone would let us know the appointment date, till now, no one has called. He seemed cold, uncaring, unprofessional, incompetent....ppl keep repeating this over and over in the past ratings...hmmm, i wonder why?
Submitted March 15, 2008
Waited 45 min for pre-surgery visit to see if he would cut out a mole. Saw me for 5 minutes. On surgery day he was on time. Agree with others that he jumped from freezing to cutting into me in too short of time, but when I winced a bit he added more freezing. Follow up visit wait time was about 20 minutes. Agree that he provides a pretty dry, and bland bedside manner, but answered questions when asked. You have to ask or you'll get very little out of him. Appears as if he does not like his job or maybe, people. Front desk is unattended often and you have to ring the bell and wait 5 minutes. Overall, he gets the job done and if you read these reviews and know what to expect and minimize disappointment.
Submitted Feb. 11, 2008
this doctor did not have compassion, over booked for surgery, and did not make sure patient was out before starting surgery. i o not recommend this doctor.
Submitted Jan. 24, 2008
My hisband was assigned to Dr. Cowan at the Victorai Hospital by emergency. He did not take the time to explain what was happening and what the options for treatment were. Very quickly decided surgery was required. When we asked for a second pinion he removed himself from the case and assigned my husband to another Dr. (Dr. Hochman) I can only say thank you as Dr. Hochman was wonderful and explained everything and answered all our questions. Dr. Hochman took a different treatment plan and so far surgery has been avoided. Thank you again Dr. Cowan for being upset at us questioning you!
Submitted Jan. 15, 2008
I saw Dr. Cowan (General Surgeon at Winnipeg Clinic) In 2006. I was referred to him by my family doctor for what I kept saying was reproductive pain. I underwent a few other diagnostic tests with him (Barium X-Ray, Gastroscopy , Colonoscopy and I believe an abdominal X-Ray) No testing on Reproductive System (he knew I had an existing Duodenal Ulcer from my referral from family doctor). The tests were booked at The Victoria Hospital which he works out of. When I had my follow up with him in his office he could not find any test results for me on his computer nor did he even remember me? He started asking me how I found out about him, did I just walk in? Are you sure you had the diagnostic tests with me? Which hospital did you have them at? Who was the Doctor that referred me to him? I told him I was referred and by whom, and that he was a specialist and we couldn't just walk in off the street! I told him his tests were done at the Victoria Hospital and the different dates...which he still couldn't find on his computer. He threw his arms up in the air and said he'd have to get a hold of the Victoria Hospital and see if they had them. I had already sensed something not right with my visits with him, and this just finished any further waste of my time and frustration with him. I walked out of his office and talked to his receptionist about what just happened and told her he can't find anything and relayed the visit to her and his questions he was asking me. (she knew who I was from going there). His receptionist pulled up my file on her computer and all my information and tests were there. She was very apologetic and told me that he just didn't know where to look for them, and that she would show him. I never went back there...to me I thought that Physician/Surgeon was dangerous, and going through some dementia or something, I was scared to go back to him. I ended getting an excellent surgeon who wasted no time getting to the route of my Reproductive Problem and surgery that I needed.
Submitted April 24, 2016