Leo Raphael J MD - Pain Management in Buffalo, New York

“Please take the time to read Dr Leo's reviews. I wish we had. My grandmother was a patient of Dr Leo for severe depression. We watched her decline over the period of a year under his care. My grandmother contacted him multiple times when she was feeling very depressed and anxious, explaining she was not doing well and needed help. His comment was, "There is no pill for loneliness", and made no changes in her medication. (This was documented in his records also that he told her this). She was humiliated and felt more anxious and helpless. She had even called 911 twice for help. Her daughter was in psychiatry for 30 years (retired) and reached out to Dr Leo regarding her symptoms and concerns. She explained she stopped taking care of herself, wasn't eating and lost 20 pounds and was sleeping all the time. As she continued to worsen, her daughter again called and emailed Dr Leo. Being a doctor, I contacted him next, expressing my concerns and asking why he had not responded to the calls and emails from her daughter. He was cocky and rude and said he was not going to have another practitioner recommend care and that he was refusing to respond to her at all. He was very hostile during our conversation. When I asked if he could prescribe something to help her, he refused to discuss her care any further. He said he had her daughter calling and now me, and refused to discuss her care further. He said, he "does not want to deal with family calling". He said, he "keeps his client case level small and not complicated" and said, "he is not willing to deal with this". We received a letter in the mail that he fired her as a patient. We have now obtained her medical records and he did not document any of our conversations, nor did he include her daughter's three emails and phone calls in his medical record (poor documentation and not practicing at the standard of care per the APA). I took the time to write this review because I never want anyone to go through what we did. Dr Leo lacks character, compassion and did not demonstrate any passion or caring for the resolution of someone suffering from mental illness. He is narcissistic and cocky and was threatened by collaboration and outside concern and input. Please do not make the same mistake we did at the cost of our grandmother's mental health.”

— Meegan Panzarella

“Left a voicemail on this doctors # while in search of new medication management. He calls me back and after mumbling where he was from I asked him to repeat. When I asked a second time he paused and stated that perhaps I should call back once I've spoken to the other doctors I've contacted... then he hung up. Weirdly passive aggressive, antagonizing, and unprofessional. By hanging up abruptly he took things to an emotional level, it frustrated me but it left me perplexed. I've never had a doctor hang up on me and I'm not a rude or insistent person. Today is my day off and his call woke me out of a nap... I simply didn't hear where he was from and was in bed away from the living room with the documents with my notes on the doctors I've contacted. Regardless, very unprofessional.”

— gemini K

“I went to ECMC in regards to my mental state. Dr. Raphael J. Leo was the psychiatrist that I saw and he also had a couple students with him. All three of them questioned me and I explained my situation. Afterwards, Dr. Leo was in the hallway with his med students and all three of them proceeded to make fun of me and my current state. I would not recommend him as a psychiatrist as he clearly is not sensitive to those with mental health issues.”

— Rachel Meyer

“I've been seeing Dr. Leo for over a year. He is a kind, sensitive and intelligent individual. He listens attentively and, unlike other doctors, he provides input and offers logical advice. It has helped me manage my stress, set boundaries and understanding myself in order to make better life choices. I highly recommend Dr. Leo.”

— Daneen