Absolutely abusive and horrible. Does not acknowledge the power imbalance between doctor/patient and speaks down to you, but she'll continue to get away with it. She is not "blunt" or "to the point" she is rude, no empathy, judgemental and imposing her own beliefs on you. Just a horrible experience. But she'll continue to get away with it.

Submitted March 3, 2024

I've had T1D for 5 years, my A1C is 6.5 and she outright refuses to allow me access to the insulin pump program after wasting a year with multiple visits trying to persuade her. Since my diagnosis, I've seen several different doctors in BC and MB and I've never had a negative experience until Dr Richardson. Serious ego issues, stay away for your own sanity.

Submitted Jan. 16, 2024

I had a receptionist giving attitude, questioning me in a negative tone of voice when I simply needed to change appointment time. I noticed she had a 1990's food pyramid in her office still during pandemic time visit. That pretty much sums up the type of knowledge you're getting. It's just clockwork of the same stuff she was taught decades ago without acknowledge to any advancements or alternative solutions. Anything contrary to her belief tends to get treated as if you're beneath her bringing up something that sounds stupid. I would rather do phone call instead of visits, but she forces clients to come in so she can get more funding from government. I waste time commuting and waiting, I waste money parking, and I waste my positive mental health threshold by visiting so she can get paid more while I get a blood pressure measured which I can do at the local shoppers drug mart without the addition of her interest-rate of souring my day. They have booked me for wrong days before and I had to come back in the following days instead, which is another time and money waste without even an apology or taking a phone call instead. Which in retrospect is crazy the staff would have audacity to ask me why I have to reschedule an appointment, and that I shouldn't do that and bend over backwards to fit her comfortable schedule. I can't help but feel like I am waiting for her to retire so I can swap to a more compatible endocrinologist who does not make me feel like crap. Instead, when I mention I want a recommendation to swap specialists, it gets met with resistance and inquisition. I wish this wasn't the case, I am simply a human who wants to go in, get information needed, get some words of encouragement, and then leave feeling optimistic with my prescription.

Submitted Dec. 20, 2023

Today was the last visit. She refused to give my son a prescription for 780G because his A1C was 9.8. She based it on a 10 year old study that doesn't include a self correcting pump. The 780 is proven to help people like my son. She's playing god. 5 hour round trip 5 minute visits are over

Submitted Nov. 3, 2023

I have been seeing Dr. Richardson for 5 years and she is wonderful. I originally was diagnosed with Stage 1 Papillary Thyroid Cancer, and I have never met someone who was so reassuring, while being direct at the same time. I’ve had a number of follow up appointments with her since my surgery in 2018 and she’s very knowledgeable and calming. I would highly recommend seeing her for all your thyroid issues/related questions.

Submitted April 12, 2023

Dr. Richardson is the best doctor I’ve ever had. She is blunt and and to the point but not in a rude way. I am over weight and she has only ever brought it up as it pertains to my health, she has never made me feel judged for being over weight. She is honest because she cares. When I see her I really believe she cares about me and wants the best for all her patients. Coming from my paediatric endocrinologist to her it was a breath of fresh air. I’ve never been more motivated to manage my diabetes and this will stay with me after I age out of this clinic all thanks to her. I feel the best I’ve ever felt and have gained so much crucial knowledge from having her as my doctor. I am actually shocked to see the other reviews , but if you don’t put in the work she will be bluntly honest with you so be prepared that she wants the best for you and will tell it how it is. I had a hard few months and let my diabetes care slip, she was empathetic but blunt that no matter what the reality is diabetes doesn’t stop for anything. I’m the healthiest and happiest I’ve ever been and my diabetes is in control thanks to her and the clinics staff.

Submitted March 23, 2023

So I saw Dr. Richardson (if you can call her a doctor) yesterday and nearly walked out 3 times during the initial consultation. She is very dismissive, condescending, argumentative, loves to cut you off mid sentence and gave me horrid medical information. I have been dealing with hypothyroidism for 30 years now and up until moving to Canada worked as a paralegal for 25+ years. So when I have a medical issue, I do my research and know how to research correctly (to be able to determine a credible site). She asked me what made me seek out treatment for my thyroid when I was first diagnosed. At the time it was after I had my daughter and tried to lose the weight I gained. I attempted to answer her, I was on a strict diet and exercise for 6 months with no change in weight or appearance. (I know muscle mass weighs more and was just expecting my clothes to fit better and appear thinner for the effort.) Everyone always scoffs when I tell them that and have had a couple of doctors gaslight me on that. But my Mom had asked me had I ever had my thyroid checked. I didn't even know what a thyroid was back then as I was in my early 20s. And the first doctor who diagnosed me scoffed too. When I demanded the test I got an apology from him as my thyroid was 157 or 158 point something (since this was 30 years ago I don't remember the exact level. But I had the utmost respect for that doctor as he apologized and from that point on took me seriously when I brought up any health issues or concerns. She actually told me that the thyroid has nothing to do with losing weight! Um, the thyroid controls your metabolism/metabolic rate. Red flag #1. Ultimately, I was forced to tell her, "I'm trying to tell you and you keep cutting me off". She kept replying with "you're not answering my question". I nearly walked out 3 times during that visit because she never would let me answer her question and gave me the responses that I'm not answering her questions. When she asked what my symptoms have been back at first diagnosis and how they are now, So I tried to explain my symptoms. When my thyroid is on the overactive edge of the "normal range", I get irregular heartbeats, lose clumps of hair at an alarming rate, get jittery, have problems sleeping and suffer digestive issues. When my thyroid is on the underactive side of the "normal range" I get irregular heartbeats (used to only be when it was overactive), lose clumps of hair at an alarming rate, suffer debilitating fatigue and am chronically constipated (tmi, I know). These are textbook symptoms for over and under active thyroid function. The second I mentioned the irregular heartbeats she said "that has nothing to do with your thyroid, I suggest you get put on heart medication". Now, I've had 2 MRIs on my heart, an ultrasound, stress test, saw a cardiologist besides my GP, wore a holter monitor twice (each for a 48-hour period) and saw a heart rhythm specialist. They even tried beta blockers which did nothing to stop the irregular beats. This was when I lived in the states. It was followed up by my GP up here just prior to seeing her with a cardiologist up here and guess what, it has been determined that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. Nearly 58 years old and my blood pressure is consistently between 114 and 118 over 80. The only medication that I'm on or need to be on is for my thyroid. I kept my answers with her concise because beyond a one or two word answer she cut me off but it's relevant to explain in detail why her behavior was abhorrent to the extent of putting my health at risk and her dismissiveness of my 30+ years of having this condition and me understanding why since menopause that there is something additionally wrong that is affecting my thyroid now (which is why I went to her). I wound up nearly walking out three times. She kept saying that I need heart medication - very disturbing medical advice since she is not a cardiologist. The biggest concern that is now going to make me lodge a formal complaint was this statement she said: "Look! I'm a VERY detailed and organized person. I have to have it MY WAY otherwise I get very confused." Let that sink in. She gets confused if a person explains their health issue(s) (she can't handle more than one symptom). She cuts you off so you cannot explain your health concerns because it confuses her?! What the bloody hell. If you as a doctor cannot listen to your patient and don't want to hear all their symptoms, do you really have a place in the medical field. You could misdiagnose a person. Not to mention if your attitude puts a patient in the position to want to walk out where they feel that they should just shut up and not try to seek medical attention because this is the treatment they are going to receive, then you can be putting a person at very serious risk of complications, further health issues and could even potential lead to a person's death.

Submitted March 9, 2023

Seeing Dr. Richardson was a waste of my time. I am young and educated and have had no success in trying to lose weight. She spoke to me like I was stupid "simple calories in an calories out, workout until you're out of breath and have increased heart rate .."

I KNOW! I don't believe this is a good enough answer medically and doesn't align with the advice of my GP and nutritionist.

Submitted March 1, 2023

I requested to be referred to another physician after seeing Dr. Richardson for a couple years. I always left her office feeling worse than when I walked in and I will never forget the way she spoke to me during my last appointment. I had not seen her for many months (cancelled some appointments) because I have always hated going to see an endo for my type 1 diabetes as most professionals seem to think the condition is black and white and so are the treatments and what you should be doing to better your health. Also I went through a significant period of depression where I would barely get out of bed for a few months and had thoughts of suicide before I got the help that I needed. I lost about 30lbs in 2 months because I only left my bedroom to go to the gym with a friend when they made me go with them to get me out of the house and I ate significantly less than I used to. I had explained all of this to Dr. Richardson when she asked why it had been so long since I last saw her. When I was done explaining my situation her only response was "well that is still no reason for you to not take care of our diabetes" like what the F lady. I could barely work up the energy to get myself food or have a shower and I literally wanted to die. Why the hell would I care about taking care of myself when I wanted to die? I just sat there in disbelief as she continued to ask me the usual questions and just made me feel like absolute crap. This doctor is the worst I have ever met and I wish her license would be taken away or she would retire because she is clearly too old to understand the developments that have been made in both research of diabetes as well as the importance of appropriate patient care. DO NOT go to her unless you want to be treated like crap and talked to by someone with absolutely no empathy.
Also I truely believe that all of the "good" ratings and comments that have been posted here are either from her or supporting staff because I can't imagine anyone having anything nice to say about this woman.

Submitted Dec. 22, 2022

The comments speak for themselves here. As a young woman with PCOS she was dismissive and was gaslighting me when I would describe my symptoms. Gave no real solutions other than “lose weight” to help ease my symptoms. Save yourself the humiliation and go to a doctor that actually respects women.

Submitted Nov. 20, 2022