Marian Hanna★☆☆☆☆Google
June 14, 2025
This review is to expose a deeply disturbing and unacceptable experience I had under the care of Dr. Anna Howell—an experience that included the outright falsification of my medical record and a deliberate obstruction of access to qualified care.
My chart falsely claims that I “declined general anesthesia” and that this was the reason for the cancellation of my surgery. This is a blatant lie. I never declined general anesthesia. I understood and accepted it as necessary for the procedure. The real reason the surgery was canceled was because I lost all trust in Dr. Howell’s competence and professionalism.
Dr. Howell lacks the microsurgical skill required for my case and made that glaringly clear during our interaction. She was condescending, dismissive, and entirely unwilling to engage in a basic, reasonable conversation about anesthesia options—specifically, my request for mask induction, a standard method used in several of my previous major surgeries. Rather than facilitating dialogue, she responded with hostility and arrogance, stating:
“I don’t care what the anesthesiologist says, I don’t feel comfortable proceeding without intubation.”
That response was not only unprofessional and medically inappropriate—it reflected a total disregard for patient-centered care and informed consent.
Even more egregious, after the cancellation, I attempted to book with another provider in the same department—someone qualified for the procedure. I was told I couldn’t, solely because I had already seen Dr. Howell. This was not only unethical but appeared to be a deliberate attempt to block me from accessing proper care. My insurance carrier contacted the office and was told conflicting information within the same day. The shifting stories and internal gatekeeping are appalling and indefensible.
Falsifying medical records to protect a provider’s reputation or shift blame onto a patient is a serious breach of medical ethics. Denying access to alternative care based on internal politics or ego is equally outrageous. Patients deserve honesty, respect, and competent treatment—not power plays and cover-ups.
What happened to me should never happen to anyone. I urge Cedars-Sinai leadership to investigate this behavior immediately. Until they do, I cannot recommend this department—or Dr. Howell—to anyone seeking safe, ethical, and trustworthy care.
