Dr. Andrew Tobkes, a gastroenterologist in Rockledge and Melbourne, refused to accept my son as a patient with newly diagnosed advanced end-stage cirrhosis. A Florida doctor can refuse to accept a new patient when the patient's condition falls outside their area of expertise, the doctor's practice is full and not accepting new patients, the patient is unable to pay for treatment, the doctor has concerns about the patient's behavior or potential for abuse, or if the practice does not accept the patient's insurance. Not one of these applied to my son. We lost four precious days because he refused to read and act on the referral. We called every day and got the same message - The doctor is out of the office, but I will send it to him again. On the fourth day, I called and begged the receptionist to call him. She did and called me back. He refused to treat my son and told us to take him to the ER and have a hospitalist work with him. We did that even though I suspected it was not how it worked, and I was right. So, I wonder why ($$$) he refused to treat him. read more