Antonio Silva-Sayago, MD

Dr. Silva Sayago made me feel very comfortable! I came prepared with notes about my symptoms that I had compiled in the weeks leading up to my appointment. He listened to my symptoms (week by week) and he let me voice my concerns without making me feel rushed or uncomfortable. He took my symptoms seriously and showed genuine concern about my wellbeing. I feel confident that Dr. Silva Sayago will help me get to the bottom of why I have been feeling the way I have. I would like to sincerely thank this doctor and his assistant for taking such great care of me!

Incompetent and unprofessional «doctor». My senior parent was referred to him for several appointments and all were unpleasant. Two indicators that this individual tarnishes the sacred oath of being a physician… arrogant/​condescending attitude and erroneous diagnoses. Fortunately, my parent is a retired molecular biologist and can identify a medical fraud immediately. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, we discussed our concerns with the GP. We were immediately informed that he has a consistent complaint record and were encouraged to submit a written account of the misconduct. If you have had the misfortune of receiving care from this person, you might consider a second opinion.

AVOID THIS DOCTOR!
I saw this doctor at Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation Bldg. in Berkeley on Telegraph after experiencing 4 incidents in 2 weeks of sudden loss of consciousness while walking down the street. Dr. Silva-​Sayago entered the room with a frustrated energy — annoyed even. He was curt and generally lacked compassion. After describing these losses of consciousness, he tried to convince me that they were not losses of consciousness, but clumsiness somehow. He was implying that I was not telling the truth about my symptoms and my own lived experience with these symptoms. HE MADE THESE ASSUMPTIONS WITHOUT DOING A MEDICAL EXAMINATION OR BRAIN SCAN OF ANY KIND. He had looked at my chart and came into the room ready to dispute my symptoms, as though my case was unimportant somehow. He spoke in an accusatory tone, telling me that I didn’t know what it meant to lose consciousness, telling me I probably just got dizzy instead. These were black outs from which I woke up only after hitting the pavement. His suggestions were so alarming and upsetting that it brought me to tears. He asked coldly why I was crying. When I told him that the way he was speaking to me and his lack of care for my frightening symptoms was very upsetting, he blamed my past history with depression for my upset! Way to further alienate and stigmatize! He NEVER apologized or took agency over the way he was speaking to me, which was completely unethical. I waited 8 months for this appointment (a length of time he accused of being a lie! What?!), and did not expect to be treated so poorly that it would break my spirit. How awful to berate a patient, accuse them of lying about losses of consciousness, and then blame their emotional reaction to your bedside manner on their struggle with mental illness (something which he had asked nothing about). It was such a horrible appointment that I am still shocked months later. He desperately needs training in mindfulness and compassion, and lessons in how NOT to use his privilege and power to belittle his patients. Absolutely atrocious and devastating bedside manner. He may do more damage than good for some patients. I took the time to report him to the Ethics Board of the East Bay Medical Foundation. I hope he is thoroughly investigated. — Angela D., Counseling Psychologist