Dr. Ruth F. McCann

In 2018, during an extremely vulnerable period in my life, I experienced deeply concerning treatment from Dr. Ruth Farrell McCann while under the care of New York Presbyterian/Columbia University. Dr. McCann, now a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, had a significant and lasting negative impact on my well-being and recovery.

When a patient is in crisis and seeking help, a physician has an ethical duty to provide care that is in the patient's best interest and to avoid causing harm. In my experience, Dr. McCann not only failed to uphold this fundamental obligation but actively contributed to my distress through her actions and statements.

During my interactions with Dr. McCann, she made several mischaracterizations and unfounded assertions that were later contradicted by the facts of my case. The consequences of her "treatment" have been profound and far-reaching, affecting my life in ways I could never have imagined.

Patients in a clinical setting, especially those dealing with mental health issues, are in an exceptionally vulnerable position and place great trust in their care providers. Based on my experience and Dr. McCann's own writings, I have serious concerns about her ability to provide the unbiased, compassionate care that patients deserve.

In an article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. McCann wrote:

"Being afraid of a patient can feel like the worst kind of betrayal. My psychiatry training partly involves working with patients who are feeling and acting out of control. I have struggled to know what to do with the emotions I have in those situations. How dare I feel frightened of, angry toward, or overwhelmed by a person whom I've promised to help?"

Source: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M19-2455 

Dr. McCann's admission that she struggles to manage her own emotions when treating patients in distress is deeply troubling. Patients in crisis need a caregiver who can provide steady, reliable support, not someone whose personal reactions may compromise the quality of care.

Unfortunately, the current medical system often insulates practitioners from accountability, making it difficult for patients to seek recourse when they are harmed by a physician's actions. However, this does not diminish the importance of sharing one's experiences and advocating for change.

I strongly urge anyone considering treatment with Dr. McCann to carefully evaluate whether she is the right fit for their needs. In my case, her approach exacerbated my distress and left me feeling more vulnerable and alone. Had I not found the inner strength to persevere, the impact of her words and actions could have been devastating.

By sharing my story, I hope to let other patients who may have had similar experiences know that they are not alone and to encourage them to speak out. I also hope that this information will prompt a closer examination of Dr. McCann's fitness to treat patients who are in crisis until she has addressed her own challenges in providing compassionate, unbiased care.