Elizabeth Laureen Strevel

Sid Grover

My father was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer in 2013. Dr Strevel decided to tell the patient right away in the first meeting that be won't be able to make it. Even when my Dad said that he is optimistic and he will fight - doctor still tried to convince him and said no you won't make it. He was diagnosed with almost a stage 4 cancer which had spread to retroperitoneal nodes so I am understand that she had a low confidence but she has no right to lower patients morale. My father received the ECF regiment of drugs. Aggressive timors should be treated aggressively that means often do scans to ensure drug is working. And keep changing the chemo drug because body usually becomes immune to the drug after 2 to 3 cycles. In my father's case, chemo drug worked great for 2 cycles and after that he struggled through the third cycle. Dad also developed skin deep infection so doctor decided to totally stop the chemo treatment for more than 2 weeks. This was unnecessary since infection was only skin deep and not life threatening. During this time the Cancer spread to Dad's liver. Mom called the doctor's office again and again coz Dad was complaining of pain. But doctor had gone on vacation for 2 weeks with no notes of backup Doc info. Nurse asked us to give Dad Advil/Typenol. We called princess margaret and they also couldn't take Dad since the primary doctor - Dr Strevel didn't leave any notes. I am a product manager and in no way the kind of work I do can save anyone's life but even I usually leave backup information/out of office notification with details on who to contact for anything urgent. My dad passed away on Feb 26th.... Maybe it was meant to be... But Doc's carelessness is not acceptable. In my opinion, someone who doesn't value life should not be treating patients. I hope and pray that no one else goes through this kind of experience.

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GMM

I have read Sid Groper's comments and they eerily reflect my own assessment after having visited with Dr Strevel prior to reading SG's comments - when asked by others what I thought of her - I said her comments were 'weird' - seemed disconnected and often unclear of what exactly it was she was trying to say - was pressured to decide yet when we started to ask her technical questions to get more information she became defensive and cut us off and said they were "inappropriate" and she "had a clinic full of patients" and all of this via a weird nervous laugh claiming to us that she was a "Lung Cancer Specialist" ! - which is what she desperately seems to want to be recognized as but apparently at her patients expense - it might be too harsh to claim she is "dangerous" but "reckless" might be close - failed to show any concern or compassion or genuine care for her patient - given this 'performance playing Doctor' her career choice seems "inappropriate" - hard to say if filing a formal complaint with the OCSA will do much more than simply protect her even more in her obvious blind career ambitions - I have tried my best to be fair here in my assessment and this was stated to others before I read SG's comments whom I do not know - I am writing this because I too think others should be warned about Dr Strevel and have a voice instead of suffering unknowingly in silence at the hands of professionals who shouldn't be but are nonetheless "protected" by their governing bodies

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Rubini Uma

Before surgery, I was told by the surgeon that my husband was in a curable state if surgery occurred. After surgery was completed, the surgeon continually begged Dr.Strevel to administer chemotherapy, however, she was adamant to not give chemotherapy regardless of the surgeon’s constant pleas. She refused to administer chemotherapy despite the surgeon and the patient’s wishes for approximately over an entire month. While small complications arose, the surgeon was willing to take complete responsibility for anything that happened from chemotherapy as well. He constantly emailed her, called her, messaged her, and even brought her to my husband’s room and begged Dr.Strevel in front of us. Nevertheless, she remained persistent on declining the administration of chemotherapy. After this period of time, Dr.Strevel had told us the cancer had spread, which had solely happed due to her lack of administering chemotherapy and her stubbornness. She told us that it was not worth administering chemotherapy at this point, since it had spread too much and thus my husband had to undergo yet another surgery. This was of no use as well since we just had to undergo the exact same process yet again, since she once again was obstinate in refusing chemotherapy post the second surgery. The surgeon, the patient, and the patient’s family were constantly begging her to administer chemotherapy but she would not budge whatsoever. We lost hope that she would listen and help my husband, so we attempted to transfer him to Princess Margaret hospital. Dr.Strevel wouldn’t allow this either and refused to provide any notes or release letters, preventing us from being able to move him anywhere. In the end, he passed away all due to her ignorance and stubbornness. She was persistent in her decision and refused to consider the surgeon nor our wishes. Her lack of compassion and utter disregard for her patient’s care and health is the reason my husband passed away. In addition, she would constantly discourage my husband and tell him that he would not make it. It was already excessively hard for him to remain optimistic and keep fighting, and her continuous discouragement and harsh words were merely putting him down even more. Doctors should uplift you and give you faith to fight such difficult diseases, but Dr.Strevel stripped my husband of hope and solely made it harder for him to find the will to keep fighting. The death of my husband will always remain in the hands of Dr.Strevel. I am taking the time to write this in hopes that the next individual reading this will be more wary and cautious in going to this doctor. Being treated by Dr.Strevel is equivalent to putting yourself in harm’s way. I beg all other patients and patients’ families who may have suffered from this doctor to step up and say something. Speak up so the next person reading this won’t have to lose their life or their loved ones. Be careful and stay safe.

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