Rudolph Charles N MD

Did a great ORIF with plates and screws on my rather severe right ankle However unfortunately this injury caused a reoccurent pain and requires occasional follow up and treatment. Dr. Rudolph was outstanding at doing that as well but one day I called for a appointment and was rudely told Dr. Rudolph doesn’t treat ankles anymore. (No care or concern for my discomfort and no interest in my further continuity of care). Completely opposite of all the previous care! Disappointed!

Excellent doctor. One of the best. I went specifically to him/​Scripps Memorial.
Surgery was really good. Great results. Thank you!

Well, I see I’m not alone in my assessment of the jerk that is Dr. Rudolph. He is a fat shamer and a VERY unethical human being. Might be a good surgeon, but that is the ONLY good thing I have to say about him. Wait till you hear what he said to me as I lay in my hospital bed! But I need to set this all up first.
God forbid you are an ounce overweight. My first visit to his office for a possible knee replacement (and this should have been my first clue) was the unsolicited advice he gave me in regards to my being fat. Btw, I don’t have a problem using that word. I’m fat and I won’t be much longer now that I am getting my second knee done by another doctor and will be able to return to my normal activities of power walking and boogie boarding. I was a competitive athlete, so I know what I need to do that I haven’t been able to do for several years now.
He actually said to me, «Why don’t you just eat one meal… EVERY OTHER DAY.» WTF?! Who gives ridiculously unhealthy advice like that?! I even said to him, «Are you crazy?!» He then said, «I guess I shouldn’t be giving out nutritional advice, heh, heh.» I then responded with, «You sure as hell shouldn’t!»
One more pre op visit before surgery and then he says to me, «Tell me the risks of surgery.» And I did. He then said, «Now tell me the risk of surgery being that overweight.» I said, «Look Doc, I know how overweight I am, you don’t need to say that.» Sheez.
Fast forward to two days after surgery as I am lying in my hospital bed at Scripps La Jolla, where he is not on staff, but does his procedures there. He comes in at like 6 am and proceeds to trace his hands over my body in some stupid fashion and all I could say was, «What are you doing?» He responds with, «I’m just trying to figure out how you do it.» «Do what?» I say. He says, and I shit you not…“YOU’RE LIKE THE SIZE OF TWO PEOPLE, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A PAPOOSE LYING NEXT TO YOU.” And he laughed whilst he said it!!!
I said, «You are the most unprofessional doctor and you have fat shamed me for the last time! Leave the room now and I never want to see you again!!» I only saw his P.A. Eric, for my post op visits. You know, the one that the other negative reviewer, Lisa S. said on here, is not very personable. She’s right, he’s not, but at least he never fat shamed me!
Needless to say, I told several of the nurses, who literally dropped their jaws (pretty much the response I’ve received from everyone I’ve told this story to!!) and asked me to tell this to the charge nurse, which of course I did. She gave me the number of the Chief of Orthopedic Surgery and several other hospital administrators to report him to. And you better believe I did as soon as I got home. The Chief called back and apologized profusely to me and said no one deserves to be talked to that way. He said he would be speaking to him regarding this matter. I told him that I just happen to be a confident fat girl. Can you imagine him saying this to one who isn’t??!
WAIT, IT GETS EVEN MORE CONVOLUTED FROM HERE!
Fast forward 6 months later and I now need to get my other knee replaced, which I knew was coming. I knew I wasn’t going back to him, that’s for sure. After calling several other surgeons and being turned down, some because of my weight, and others because of my insurance, I got a bit desperate, and decided to call back Rudolph’s office to see if there might be another surgeon in his office that might do the procedure. Eric, his PA answered the phone. When I told him why I was calling, he said, «Are you sure you don’t want Dr. Rudolph to do it? You think the surgery went ok, right?» Yes, I said, but this is what he said to me in the hospital and I really don’t want to see him again, bla, bla. Eric said, let me just see if he will even do the surgery on you and put me on hold before I could even say no way. What he came back with next, blew me away.
Eric said, «I talked to him and he said, if you will call back the Chief of Surgery and tell him you regret all you said, he will do your surgery.» WHAT THE HELL!!! You want me to lie about my own horrific experience with you and compromise MY ETHICS to do so!!! The nerve of that bastard! I should report your ass to the AMA and don’t think I still won’t!
Happy ending to this sad story. The very next day, I found a wonderful doctor who is doing my surgery this coming week. When I asked him why he would do the surgery when others wouldn’t, he said, «Recent literature shows that there is no more of a risk doing surgery on overweight patients as there is on thinner ones.» He also was blown away when I told him what Dr. Rudolph said and how I was treated.
I sure hope someone in his office, or Dr. Rudolph himself reads this. You need to understand how you are undermining people’s esteem and confidence with your fat shaming ways. Take some kind of patient compassion classes, because you are far from being a compassionate person, no less a caring doctor!

I had been to several Orthopedic Surgeons, but because my shoulder was so bad, no one wanted to touch it. Then I was referred to Dr. Rudolph (Bone Builders)! He was wonderful! It actually made me cry. Not only was he listening to me, but he was talking to me!!! Finally, I felt so good in that office! His P.A. is kinda serious, not very personable. Well, he did the surgery and I have regained my range of motion. Now I have to work on my strength. I am SO pleased with Dr. Rudolph and recommend him full heartedly! You can trust him!!!

I presented to Charles Rudolph MD for a second opinion regarding a 20-​week-​old fracture sustained in a bicycle crash. He did not hesitate to tell me within the first few minutes that I had a non-​union. Next, he advised me that I needed a noninvasive intervention. Questions I posed regarding risks and benefits of delayed surgery were answered to my complete satisfaction. Dr. Rudolph inspired my implicit confidence with his knowledge, expertise, professionalism. My diagnostic study images (X-​rays and CT scan) were reviewed with me in detail and explained in a manner that I was able to comprehend. He saw me within a few minutes of my appointment time (without excessive or onerous forms to be completed prior to my initial evaluation). Physical examination was thorough pertinent to my injury. Appropriate history was obtained and he clearly appreciated my total patient profile. I was impressed and felt that I had received accurate diagnosis, prognosis, and most appropriate treatment/​plan of care recommendations. For patients who have freedom of choice to select their specialty providers without being confined to a managed care network, I’d unequivocally recommend Charles Rudolph MD for Orthopedics.

Dr Rudolph and his supporting staff are WONDERFUL!!! I’ve been a patient for over 1yr now, and wish I could have him/​staff as my regular office/​doctor. If you need an Ortho., I highly recommend Dr. Charles Rudolph. YOU WON’T REGRET YOUR CHOICE!!! ;)