1 /5 Jennifer Herwitt: **Subject: Formal Complaint Against Dr. Kimberly Dike and Cedar Sinai Medical Group, Santa Monica**
I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding the negligent, unethical, and unprofessional care I received from Dr. Kimberly Dike and the Cedar Sinai Medical Group in Santa Monica. The care provided fell far below acceptable medical standards and caused severe physical, emotional, and financial distress.
**Summary of Issues and Consequences:**
1. **Negligent Care and Communication:**
- Dr. Kimberly Dike rushed through my initial visit, disregarding my severe pain and providing minimal examination or discussion of a treatment plan.
- Despite my repeated attempts to seek clarification on my treatment, blood work results, and medication refills, she refused to return my calls. Instead, her office staff provided responses that were unrelated to my inquiries and often rude.
2. **Unethical and Misleading Records:**
- I requested my medical records and discovered that Dr. Dikeās notes about my initial visit contained outright lies about the care she claimed to have provided. My fiancĆ©, who was present during the appointment, can corroborate these discrepancies. This constitutes unethical tampering with medical records.
3. **Abandonment of Care:**
- Dr. Dike informed the Director of the practice, Juliano, that she no longer wished to treat me, dismissing my condition as ānot urgent.ā This decision left me without necessary medication and in unbearable pain for over three months until I could secure an appointment with another specialist.
4. **Reckless Recommendations:**
- Against the advice of Cedar Sinai ER doctors, Dr. Dike suggested I return to the ER for pain management. This resulted in an ER visit costing over $62,000, where I was again told that the ER was only for acute care and that I urgently needed follow-up with a GI specialistācare Dr. Dike failed to provide.
**Impact on My Health and Life:**
Due to the negligence of Dr. Dike and the Cedar Sinai Medical Group:
- I suffered months of debilitating pain and was unable to function in my daily life.
- I lost 20 pounds, bringing my weight down to 100 pounds, severely impacting my health.
- I was forced to miss work for months, incurring significant financial hardship.
**Broader Concerns:**
- The practice has systemic issues, as evidenced by its low ratings and numerous reviews citing similar complaints of dismissive care, poor communication, and unethical billing.
- The Lead MD, Dr. Katkov, and the Director, Juliano, have also failed to address these concerns or implement meaningful changes.
**Request for Action:**
I urge Cedar Sinai to thoroughly investigate these issues and hold Dr. Kimberly Dike, Dr. Katkov, and the Director accountable for their actions. This practice has caused irreparable harm to my health and well-being, and it is critical that measures are taken to ensure no other patient endures such mistreatment.
