I came to the clinic in severe dental pain, with a history of chronic illness (including an ICD and…read moreLong QT Syndrome), long-term medical trauma, DV situations, and financial hardships that have made accessing dental care more difficult throughout my life. I was 100% honest and embarrassed by these circumstances and was promised I would be met with zero judgment in the care I received. At first, everyone was reassuring and approaching me with care, because they could tell that I was nervous. They recognized my anxiety very quickly. I fully understood prior to my arrival that I need cardiology clearance to continue with a sedation or extraction. Thats why I only scheduled a visit for the New Patient Special-- it only includes your X-rays, an exam, and a cleaning. I didn't expect anything more or less.
I tried explaining this to Dr. Farnam Farzam while he continued talking over me. He assumed I didn't want to hear anything he had to say to me when I grew sad after my exam results, and started asking me questions about why I can't get cardiac care or get there efficiently. He found himself unsatisfied with all of my answers and "couldn't believe" anything I was saying. He went so far as to ask, "So you just don't care about your health, or what?" and seemed to disregard my experience because he has "never heard of all that." When he asked if I had a driver's license to take myself to a cardiologist for dental clearance, I answered honestly: "No." Before I could explain that I only have a state ID, he interrupted and said, "So you're not a person or even a human being in the state of Texas? So, you don't EXIST here? So how did you get HERE today?"
I nervously made it known, "I feel a little judged," and that's when Dr. Farnam Farzam became VERY irritated. I started to tear up from this spontaneous mood swing, which triggered him to inform me that I'm "not about to guilt trip him for being cautious." He then shoved his chair away, said "We're done here" and completely walked away from me. He threw his hand up and demanded that his wife, Dr. Melanie Farzam, made sure to issue me a full refund so I could "afford a taxi."
Sitting there in tears, I ask her what just happened. I simply said "I feel a little judged" and that was the immediate response. I wasn't even rude. She tried explaining to me, without speaking to him, that he just meant my financial situation was being taken into consideration and that he wants me to use the money to get to another clinic with doctors to complete my care-- that if her daughter was extended that same grace, she would take it-- and that her husband "isn't angry" and "isn't a bad guy."
Moments later, he returns and doesn't exchange any words with me. No cleaning ever was done. Dr. Melanie Farzam -- who remained professional -- closed the visit and explained my prescription to me. She even offered to call it in herself for my own comfort and walked me to the door.
While I appreciate the immediate refund and Dr. Melanie Farzam's help, this experience was so incredibly dehumanizing and disheartening. I would not recommend Dr. Farnam H. Farzam to anyone, especially those with trauma history or financial hardship, who may need care and are seeking basic human decency.
*I was also prescribed pain medication that I can't take due to my Long QT Syndrome. My condition was written clearly more than once and stated verbally multiple times. This is truly shocking after the insensitive spiel I was given about him "not wanting me to die in his chair" and how I'm a liability if he were to perform services I didn't ever ask him for.