Samantha R Midura
I chose Dr. Ellen Turner in part because she markets her practice as offering functional medicine and hormone evaluation, and this was explicitly reiterated to me at the time of scheduling a new-patient appointment. Upon arrival, I was told, by the nurse who began my appointment, that these services are no longer offered. This information and the whole nurse interaction was delivered in a rude, dismissive tone towards me. When I questioned the discrepancy between what was advertised and what was actually provided, the staff response made it clear this practice is struggling with medical burnout and workload issues. This discrepancy constitutes misleading advertising and induced me to schedule a visit under false assumptions. I informed the nurse and front desk that I was not going to waste my time or a copay under those circumstances, thanked them, and walked out. More broadly, what is concerning is a clear pattern in how patient distress and criticism are handled. In public responses to negative reviews, the practice repeatedly invokes HIPAA, policy, credentials, and the “inappropriateness” of public feedback—not to acknowledge harm, but to deflect it and subtly shift blame onto patients. While HIPAA limits specifics for the practice of medicine, it does not prevent basic empathy or accountability from providers. The choice not to offer either reinforces an unequal power dynamic where patients are framed as confused or inappropriate for speaking up. A practice that markets itself as compassionate, functional, and whole-person oriented should not respond to patient concerns by hiding behind policy or authority. I strongly encourage prospective patients—especially those seeking functional or holistic care—to read the lowest reviews carefully and pay attention not just to what patients say, but how those concerns are responded to by Dr. Ellen Turner.