I’ve been a patient of Allan’s for over ten years. He started off as my least favourite human being, forcibly medicating me unnecessarily (I would have taken multiple reasonable alternative medications voluntarily). However I take my hat off to him for subsequently acknowledging that that forcible medication was unnecessary, and apologising. He was fabulous during a forensic process, doing everything possible to empower me and make me feel like I was in control when I was under a license (and he theoretically had the power to compel me to take medication). Whilst he’s not perfect he is fabulous when I’m acutely unwell and is committed to transparency, patient privacy, patient-centred care and empowerment. He says he views himself as a resource for patients to use as they manage their illnesses independently. His commitment to his patients is unsurpassed.

Submitted Jan. 16, 2022

Went for help he took my drivers licence away for no legal reason said I might never see my kids again made me so much worse I took overdose nearly died I blame him he never even spoke to me at all only my adult children who had no sympathy for me he just punished me tipped me over the edge worse thing to ever come in contact with him I’m lucky I’m alive

Submitted Dec. 17, 2021

I havent personally experienced Dr. Nelson's care as a treating psychiatrist, I have observed his compassion and empathy with those needing his care. Acute mental health care is challenging for both patients and staff. Dr. Nelson is caring, considerate and compassionate. I suggest you listen to his ideas and I hope he can help with your recovery.

Submitted Oct. 16, 2021

Dr Allan Nelson forced me to take a depressant drug that causes lethargy when I was sent to hospital suffering from chronic fatigue and being slightly underweight and dehydrated. He did this for superficial reasons, without adequate reason to believe that I'd benefit, and without asking the appropriate questions. By the time he arrived in the ED to see me for the first time, I had rehydrated and eaten well and was presenting in a normal, sane, non-psychotic, non-manic state. He only asked leading questions, and it seemed like they were only to justify the treatment decision he'd apparently already made before seeing me. He would have had plenty of reason to avoid involuntary treatment with lethargy-causing drugs and other invasive treatments if he'd done due diligence. Obviously these lethargy-causing drugs made my situation worse. I lost even more weight as a result because I had even less energy to get out of bed and to eat, and I became severely underweight as a result. When he found me lying on the floor of my room due to the effects of the drug combined with my chronic fatigue, he used this as an excuse to extend my involuntary treatment order at the hospital for another 4-6 weeks combined with continued use of the lethargy-causing depressant drug, instead of taking me off the drug and pausing involuntary invasive treatment to observe how I would behave with refeeding alone as he should have initially. Later, when I did not respond to a rude demand he made due to my dislike of his behaviour and due to my lethargy, he threatened to increase the dosage on my depressant drug prescription if I refused to come with him to a private room to speak to him. When I did refuse to do so, he did so and increased the dosage on my depressant drug prescription further. After I started to pretend to take the drug and my lethargy greatly improved. I was able to force myself to start putting weight back on and my lethargy improved further. Another doctor then recognized that detention could no longer be justified, after which Dr Nelson exaggerated and lied on my discharge notice, presumably to make excuses for his terrible & violent treatment decisions. I don't think he should be allowed to practice.

Submitted Sept. 9, 2021

He is an arrogant bully to patients and staff. Unbelievable that he is allowed to practice!

Submitted April 14, 2021

I saw this doctor in hospital as well, and he was horrible. He encouraged the nurses to restrain me if I seemed agitated at all, without bothering to do verbal deescalation or offer oral medication first. I told him that I felt like I was losing time and memory of what was happening while I was in the closed ward, and asked to not get as much olanzapine, lorazepam and midazolam and he lied and told me that those weren't side effects of those drugs, when they were. When it was coming to the end of my level two inpatient treatment order, he told me I would be put onto a level three unless I agreed to having my family come in for a meeting - and this was ridiculous because firstly, I am thirty two and secondly, my parents live in Murray Bridge and have nothing to do with me. He also decided that I have schizoaffective disorder, but I don't have psychotic sympyoms outside of my manic episodes, so that's not really accurate. He didn't listen to me and was just big on over medicating me - like medication was just to sedate me and not to treat?

Submitted Aug. 5, 2018

This doctor forced medication on me when I wouldn't talk to him about my paranoia. He made comments like "well if you're not going to be open about it, we'll just have to give more seroquel." And this site won't let me use the expletives I would like to describe him with.

Submitted March 19, 2018

Allan Nelson was the consultant in charge of my ~7 week inpatient stay at FMC. The treatment I received was inadequate, and his behaviour in particular was inappropriate. He was rude, condescending and used treatment punitively. He also revealed private parts of my treatment to my relatives that were not relevant to their role as carers.

Submitted Dec. 27, 2017

Couldn't speak more highly of him empowering me to manage my illness independently

Submitted Sept. 27, 2015