Dr. Anca Bostinariu, Psychiatrist, Burnaby, BC

Ratings for Dr. Anca Bostinariu

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  My experience with Dr. Bostinariu was horrible. Previous reviewers are right: Dr. Bostinariu has a big problem with boundaries and personal biases. Right at the beginning of my session with her, she tells me a story of a friend that results in suicide- no warning of a very triggering subject, and completely inappropriate and unrelated to what we were discussing. She continued to exhibit unprofessional behaviour; when I ended our session early because I wasn't comfortable continuing to work with her, she became hostile and passive aggressive. She recommended an anti-depressant but stressed that it was VERY expensive and continually challenged me on how exactly I could afford it, even though she also specifically said she wouldn't write a prescription for me. Her personal biases and lack of boundaries continually coloured her observations of me to the point where several times it didn't feel like she was making accurate readings on me, but was instead talking about her own problems or stories and superimposing those on top of me instead. She is also quite racist- one of her very first remarks to me after I spoke was, "Oh, your English is quite good! You must've been born here." Tactless, unnecessary, and narrow-minded. She continued to make other small racial remarks, even dismissing something I cited was cultural norm. I'm so glad that she, a white woman with a huge lack of self-awareness, empathy, and tact, can say with such confidence when I, a Chinese woman, am wrong about my culture. These are just small examples of my session with her. I left traumatized. Previous reviews have said she's already been disciplined by the BC College of Physicians, and that she's under investigation again. Based on my experience with her, I am not surprised in the slightest. I'm only surprised that she is still allowed to continue practicing. The good news is, any other psychiatrist you see will only be an improvement from here on out.

  Submitted: July 09, 2021
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  She is very poorly equipped to be helping people. She needs help herself

  Submitted: April 20, 2021
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  Dr. Bostinariu attempted to push me onto an extremely low calorie diet (800 cals) & promote vitamin supplements (she is a psychiatrist not a nutritionist nor a dietician). Then when it came time to submit a report to my GP, she instead sent transcripts of our sessions (a massive breach of privacy!). Worse still those transcripts were full of errors, it’s like she never actually bothered to listen! If I could rate her a ZERO I would!

  Submitted: August 07, 2020
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  Never looked at my records from my previous psychiatrist, so had no idea of medications I had previously been prescribed nor previous diagnosis. Jumped to conclusions ( ie I must have xx because I went to xxx therapy even though particular therapy deals with both conditions.) Forced me to fill my prescription at HER pharmacy across the street rather than the perfectly good pharmacy I know and trust. Took one of my meds away from me and accused me of doubling my dosage. I pointed out the dosage prescribed and she did not apologize. Also asked pharmacist I’d I could return and refund my meds if they did not work for me. You cannot return prescribed meds, too easy to be tampered with and any doctor would know this. I do not recommend. I know the wait for pdoc sin this area can be up to two years or more, but if you settle for this one, i can only guarantee you will not get better, and likely worse.

  Submitted: December 05, 2019
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  This doctor has a 'difficult' personality. She does not welcome questions about medication that she prescribes and forces you to use her own pharmacy. I was not in crisis when I visited her, yet, she insisted all my medications must be changed immediately, as in, the next day which did not turn out well for me at all. When I explained my problems with the new meds she told me of course I had problems, I had taken them as she directed, on an empty stomach. She raised her voice at me, and took my previous medication away from me, even though it was not doing me any harm. Two of the doctors at my clinic also said they found her difficult to deal with over the phone. I decided to seek help elsewhere as dealing with her made me extremely anxious and I did not like the idea of her being in charge of my mental health needs. I was left under-medicated and suffered 3 hypo-manic episodes over the next few months as no other doctors were available and I was turned down when I sought help by Burnaby Hospital 3 times. Psychiatric patients in the city of Burnaby are at great risk and particularily vulnerable as there are no other doctors and Dr. Bostinariu is desparate for patients, as she told me in the first session, she had retired last year and burned all her patients files. She explained that she had returned to practice because she had severe money problems. This is not what a patient wants to hear when they need help.

  Submitted: January 12, 2019