Dr. Noriega has been taking care of me for some time now. As we get older, things we took for…read moregranted in our youth suddenly become more and more critical. Foot pain and care is one of those areas. In a nutshell, he is highly competent, a consummate professional, and just a nice guy who takes the time to talk to you and answer your questions. In short, a healer who cares. Could not recommend him more highly.

This week I had my first appointment to see Dr. Noriega. My husband and I arrived early, we…read morepatiently awaited to see him. A woman walked into the tiny waiting room (without a mask.) There were 7 people, my husband and I included in that wait area. She was told by a nurse that she needs to wear a mask, she replied: "There's no mask here for me to wear so whatever." The nurse handed her a mask, she put it in her lap and went back to fiddle on her phone. A lady with her daughter standing near us shared a frustrated look. I politely asked her to wear the mask she was given as it is a very small waiting area. She became nasty and belligerent. She shouted at me, saying: "Mind your own damn business, Karen!" A big man came to join her with the same nasty belligerence, he walked over to me to get in my space. My husband told him to back away. He said to both of us: " She's my business so you all just step back!" The woman continued her aggressive outbursts. The same nurse who gave her the mask came out and asked what was going on. The woman said: "Tell this (WHITE WOMAN) to mind her damn business! You hear that Karen, mind your business." I have no idea who Karen is, I can only deduce she is a decent woman with common sense who approached her at some point, wanting the same respect as I did. The nurse came out and still said nothing to them, she then got her office manager, she came out and told her she was next to see the doctor. I felt quite offended, along with others waiting. The lady with her daughter left, my husband and I left as well. I needed to see a doctor as I live in daily pain, but I could no longer tolerate this abuse, and at a doctor's office. There is still a mandate by the State of Louisiana to wear a mask and other requirements to stay safe from COVID-19. The 2 people who caused this terrible and unnecessary commotion are black, yet they were shouting (white woman) to me repeatedly. Their actions were racial and with verbal assault. There was zero interest by the clinic in how I was treated, yet I firmly believe that because they are black, this was the only reason this doctor's staff turned a blind eye to their ill-mannered behavior. As a Hispanic woman, I would never want a pass to behave badly, or disrespect others. My responsibility is to protect myself, my family and respect current mandate to protect those among us. There is a crisis in America no one has ever seen before, we must all take to heart. As such, when people like this who treat others with racial hate, they should have been escorted off the premises and focus on those waiting and those who had to leave as result. I never got a call from the clinic.