I saw Dr Ratleff for a regular pap. Having had a very compassionate and gentle dr in the past, but who had since retired, I opted for this woman. The exam was very rough and uncomfortable, and I was so glad when it was over. I was about to sit up from the exam table, when she very suddenly thrust her finger into my rectum. She didn't tell me she was going to do this, and it so startled me that I asked what she was doing. She rudely said she was doing a rectal exam. She then thrust her finger in again, and it hurt very badly. She made the comment that I was very tight (ya, I had not time to even begin to relax). It was so out of the blue, and was nothing I'd EVER experienced during a routine pap appointment, and I've had several. I couldn't believe how rude and uncommunicative she was. I left feeling violated and physically in pain. I had bleeding almost every day after that. Within the next several months, I was in need of a colonoscopy, and I was informed that I had a rectal tear, and that was what the bleeding was from. (Thank God it wasn't colon cancer.) I have been told that I should sue Dr. Ratleff. I won't do that, as it is probably past the timeframe that I can do that. However, I would agree with most of the reviews here--use this woman at your own risk. She is a horrible 'doctor' who has no compassion for her patients, and treats them like a side of beef. Actually, I've seen butchers who were gentler than she was.

Submitted Sept. 29, 2023

BEWARE!!! Dr. Darwana Ratleff was very rough, she has a horrible bedside manner, she humiliated me for asking for a small speculum as I'm post menopausal as well as I have had some prior trauma requiring the small speculum and I've been working in the medical profession for 34+ years and know what the speculum sizes are called. When I asked for the small speculum, she said 6 or 7 times, "You mean you want the "juvenile" speculum" and she said it loudly and she humiliated me in front of her Medical Assistant and the Medical Student/Resident working with her that day. Then when she performed my pelvic exam and pap smear, she was very rough and she hurt me and then she blamed me for it. I bled for a few days. I feel it's highly unprofessional to blame the patient when you're the one who is to blame. Don't blame me for hurting me and then blame me for being post menopausal, which I cannot change.
I wouldn't want my dog to see this woman. Notice I intentionally didn't use the term doctor as I don't feel she's a very good doctor and doesn't deserve the title of doctor when she doesn't act like one.
I've seen Darwana Ratleff like three or four times after Dr. Catherine Kemmer retired, which was a HUGE disappointment as Dr. Kemmer was wonderful and Darwana Ratleff shouldn't be allowed to practice medicine. I put off my appointments for like two years because she hurts me so badly every time I would see her. I am a highly educated medical professional and know what she's done is unprofessional and I don't deserve to be treated the way she treated me. I don't ever want to have a pap smear or pelvic exam again thanks to Darwana Ratleff!!!

Submitted March 19, 2021

The Most Wonderful OB anyone can ever wish for. Dr. Ratleff's Care for her Patient is Excellent. Dr. Ratleff is very Knowledgeable. Experience. and Caring. a Wonderful Lady full of wisdom and knowledge.
I would most differently recommended Dr. Ratleff at 100% the best OB in Las Cruces.

Submitted July 29, 2019

I wish there was a Zero Star option.One of the worst physicians I encounter, definitely worst OB/GYN I've ever met!!Pretends to be a friend ...Sold to BIG Pharma, gets annoyed if you ask questions that make her think you have health concerns and are not sure of buying her product. After all is our body and reproductive system we are talking about, we have the right to be fully informed and have our questions answered or at least respected.

Submitted Oct. 24, 2018

Had only positive experience with Dr.Ratleff. Always courteous, never disrespectful or dismissive. She was very helpful in figuring out how to set up my prescription with a mail-in pharmacy (which was not an easy task). Last time when I came with lots of questions she was able to answer all of them and was not afraid to admit that she needed to double check something before giving me a definitive answer.

Submitted March 30, 2018

Pretended to be cool and friendly, but it was obvious that She was in a hurry to sell you a product and didn't care nor answered with knowledge to concerns about sides effects. Wouldn't trust my female dog to her.

Submitted Jan. 30, 2018

I had never been to an OB/GYN who had NO bedside manners, no tact, no humility, and no compassion until now. Darwana Ratleff (I find it hard to call her a doctor) was the worst doctor's visit I have ever experienced. I could have gone to see a 3 year old and get told the same information I was told by Darwana. I went in to get a Mirena IUD consultation because I already had had the IUD in place for over a year, but did not feel I received enough information about it from my previous OB/GYN/Midwife (who moved out of state) who placed it in me. I was having some issues like Anxiety and Depression among other issues and had read up on the Mirena IUD online and found out on MULTIPLE websites that it can contribute to my issues. There were MANY other women who were on the same boat as me and once they had the IUD removed, they started to feel better. So my intentions were to see an expert on the IUD, get my questions answered, and have the IUD removed. Darwana didn't even let me get that far. Once I told her my concerns about the IUD and the symptoms I had been having, she quickly put on a defense. It's like I was offending her personally. She quickly cut me off, dismissed my concerns, was NOT compassionate (even though I was in tears by then), and said I just need to try another IUD - the Paragard, in which by the end of the visit, she handed me the brochure. A tissue would have been more preferable. Anyways, my husband was waiting for me in the waiting area and saw me exit in tears. After paying the co-pay (which was a BIG waste of my $30), my husband told me that there were IUD brochures in the waiting area. So putting two and two together, it was obvious Darwana got her little feelings hurt because I was not in support of a product that her office/she most likely endorsed and probably gets a cut in pay for recommending to her patients. SO sorry Darwana for not liking a product you endorse and get paid for! This product was a contributor to my anxiety and depression (which you did not agree with) because I had it removed shortly after my visit with you with an actual professional and my anxiety and depression diminished. Please learn some bedside manners and get some compassion! I will never recommend you to anyone!

Submitted June 27, 2016

I went to see Dr. Ratleff for a physical and to talk over some issues. I am an older lady, this may be why I was not pleased with the outcome of my visit- She was nice, but did not seem to have much knowledge concerning older women. When I asked about estrogen she did not seem to know a lot, and when I ask about the medicines for osteoporosis she admitted she knew very little about them and could not recommend any, but if there was one I would like for her to look up she would ,other than that she knew nothing about them . While I went there for an physical exam which I had not had in awhile, she never used the interment one normally uses to insert to look inside for any abnormal tissue, instead she inserted her finger quickly and said all was OK. I was taken aback by this, never have I been to a obgyn that inserted a finger to see if everything was normal. I should have stated something to her or the staff but was embarrassed, so I said nothing .. There was no one else in the room even though she had asked if I wanted someone before the so called exam I said no because I felt at that time there was no need, But I wish that I had someone else in the room , maybe she would have done a proper exam. She was very nice but for me she did not do a proper exam nor did she answer any of my concerns on estrogen or osteoporosis. As a older female these issues are also something I feel that a doctor that treats women should know something about and can discuss. I was disappointed and also felt using a finger was inappropriate and not a proper exam to tell if anything was wrong.

Submitted Feb. 23, 2015

I love Ratleff, she is amazing. She is caring, smart, and listens to the patient needs completely.

Submitted May 15, 2014

Dr. Ratleff is a very good Dr. - she takes the time to listen to what's going on and is interested in treating the whole person, not just things related to obstetrics/gynecology.

Submitted May 13, 2009