Dr. Diane Amstutz, PHD

I was a patient of hers a few years ago, and it was awful. I felt completely dismissed, and not heard. She seemed amused by my feelings regarding my disability. She didn't seem to know how to handle a pediatric patient that had the ability to advocate for themselves and their severe pain. The worst part was that she genuinely believed she was helping. I left the Shirley Ryan Abilitylab after three weeks, and then learned that I had worsened my chronic fatigue and got a diagnosis for a genetic disorder that they did not acknowledge while I was there. I was pushed too far, too fast, and the staff members truly thought they were helping me. I was diagnosed with PTSD after my stay there. My parents and I regret our decision to participate in the program because of her involvement. There were some excellent doctors, but Diane was heavily involved in my treatment plan and harmed my emotional health with her attitude. Her "mind over matter" approach was not helpful because the main contributor to my pain was not central sensitization, but a genetic disorder that is inherently painful. I always felt like I was being talked down to with her patronizing tone.