One Star: My Experience With Dr. Hugan Frederick…read more
I am writing this review years later, now pregnant with my third and working in pregnancy and pediatric healthcare myself, because I finally have the clarity and strength to speak on my experience with Dr. Hugan Frederick in October 2021. What happened during my care left a lasting impact on me as a first-time mother, and it is something I would want any expecting patient to know before choosing their provider.
During my pregnancy, I was routed to Emory Johns Creek Hospital due to unexplained bleeding at 36 weeks. While the hospital itself had its own issues, my interactions with Dr. Frederick were what ultimately left me feeling unseen, unsupported, and dismissed during one of the most vulnerable moments of my life.
When I called the office crying because a high-risk doctor at the hospital informed me, without any discussion or consent, that a C-section had already been scheduled for me, Dr. Frederick eventually came to speak with me. Instead of reassurance or guidance, he told me that he "had somewhere to be." That statement set the tone for the rest of my labor and delivery.
During labor, I was offered an epidural repeatedly after declining several times, which made me feel pressured rather than supported. When it was time to push, Dr. Frederick stood several feet back, leaning against the wall, checking his watch far more than he checked on me. There was no coaching, no encouragement, and no genuine presence. It felt like I was an inconvenience and he was simply waiting for the clock to run out.
What made the situation worse is that I later found out someone from the practice had documented that they spent 30 to 45 minutes speaking with me, something that never happened. As a patient, it is incredibly unsettling to discover that documentation in your medical record does not reflect reality.
I understand now, with more birth experience and medical training behind me, that birth can be unpredictable and complicated, and that outcomes vary. But what I experienced with Dr. Frederick was not a matter of medical unpredictability. It was a matter of care that felt cold, inattentive, and disengaged. During labor and delivery, a patient needs advocacy, communication, and compassion, and in my experience, those things were not present.
As a healthcare provider today, I know how deeply vulnerable pregnancy and birth can be, and how crucial it is for patients to feel safe, heard, and supported. I would not recommend Dr. Frederick to anyone seeking that level of care during such an important time.
I sincerely hope his patient care has changed since 2021, but based on my own experience, I cannot in good faith recommend him as a provider.
