Dr. Hope E. Knauer
Marshall Clinic Effingham
300 N Maple St
Effingham, IL, United States
62401
300 N Maple St
Effingham, IL, United States
62401
No Phone Number Provided
No Website Provided
Facility Affiliations
Dr. Hope E. Knauer's Credentials
Education
- Duke University School Of Medicine (Grad. 1983)
Insurance accepted by this Doctor
Other patients have successfully used these insurance providers, please call the Doctor's office to find out if your insurance plan is accepted.
Blue Cross / Blue Shield
Coventry Healthcare
- Coventry
HealthPartners
TRICARE
I am the Son in Law of a recently deceased lung cancer patient. Several months before my Mother in Law's death, her doctor, Dr. Knauer, diagnosed her as having a sinus infection and was treating her with antibiotics. Dr. Knauer stuck with this diagnosis during the proceeding visits. My Wife, out of growing concern over her Mother's non improving condition, traveled downstate to check on her Mother. Upon seeing her, my Wife immediately called Marshal Clinic to make another appointment. When my Wife called me she said "my Mother looks like she's aged ten years". Dr. Knauer wasn't available, however an appointment was made to see the physician's assistant. An X-ray was taken that day and it showed large numbers of abnormal lung masses. My Mother in Law was then immediately admitted to St. Anthony's for further tests. In the late afternoon of that day, Dr. Knauer called my Mother in Law's room. When my wife answered the phone, there was a somewhat flippant and occasionally laughing Dr. Knauer on the other end. After exchanging some small talk, Dr. Knauer asked to speak to my Wife's Mother. This is how the conversation began, and I quote, "are you sitting down? You have lung cancer". Knauer chose to make this incredibly insensitive phone call even though her office is a short walk from the hospital. Over the next four months, my Mother in Law was in and out of the hospital. Her main care was taken over by the wonderful Oncologist Dr. Philip Dy. Unfortunately the cancer was so advanced she never really had a chance. Dr Knauer would stop by in the morning, which is her job, but never really added to he care. On the last day of my Mother in Law's life, Dr. Knauer stopped by around 6:30 AM while my wife was sleeping on the floor by her Mother's bed side. My Mother in Law was still conscious, but just barely. While my Mother in Law was holding my hand, Dr. Knauer said to me "does she have a minister? Well you'd better call him soon"! Dr. Knauer was smiling all along and saying inappropriate things right up till the end. It was almost as if she was amused by the scene. It was strange behavior to say the least.
Lack of compassion and arrogance are not uncommon traits with some doctors, however, Dr. Knauer's poor behavior goes well beyond simple callousness in my opinion. Dr. Knauer seems to lack basic people skills as well as lacking any sense of what's appropriate to say, or more importantly, what's NOT appropriate to say during a family's most trying times. She lacks the necessary "filters". In other words, she lacks the basic decency traits that most of us learn in our youth or even have instinctively inside us. The late George Carlin once said "it's scary to think that somewhere in the world the worst doctor is practicing". Well George, she may be practicing in Effingham Il.
Submitted Jan. 9, 2015