For Sophia Facaros, losing her doctor of 24 years was difficult, but how she found out, she says, was far worse.
“Got the phone call last week: ‘Dr. Seski has closed his practice.’ ‘OK so can I get in a little earlier?’ ‘No he’s closed his practice, you have to find a doctor,'” said Facaros.
The news came nine months after Dr. Jan Seski was named in an investigation by officials in Zimbabwe for hunting and killing a lion there. Seski was never charged with a crime and has maintained his hunt was legal. For Facaros, his care here in Pittsburgh was essential
“I had cervical cancer,” said Facaros. “I was only 38 years old at the time.”
Facaros said she needs constant checkups with the oncologist gynecologist and a regular prescription.
“It’s sustaining medicine that I take monthly,” said Facaros
Facaros said since Seski gave her little notice, it took her four days to have another doctor fill her essential medicine. She said she got the call about the closing on April 26, then a letter sent to her through Federal Express on May 4. The letter is dated April 30 and reads that the office was closing that same day.
Facaros feels as if she and the other patients were abandoned. According to the state of Pennsylvania, abandonment occurs when a physician withdraws his services after a physician-patient relationship has been established and by failing to give notice to the patient of the physician’s intention to withdraw in sufficient time to allow the patient to obtain necessary medical care.
An employee inside Seski’s Oakland office confirmed that the office is closed, but would not answer any further questions regarding when he decided to close his practice or why.
