James LaRoy, MD

This goes out to Dr. James B Laroy! I’ve been looking for this man for years! He was me & my brother’s doctor when we were kids! Me & my family think of him quite often & he’s left such a great impact on me! I truly love this guy! Now that I know where he works, I hope to re acquaint with him & take him out to lunch. That is one caring & fantastic doctor!

This is my first review on Unilocal about any doctor. I had to write so that others can be warned.
I visited Urgent Care at PAMF Mountain View about two months ago for a fever. Dr. LaRoy examined me and quickly ordered a Rapid Strep Throat Test because he suspected I got a bacteria. When the test result came back Negative, he said without asking me anything: «The test result might be wrong, I will still treat it as bacteria.» So he prescribed me antibiotics for 10 days and then left. I did not have chance to even discuss why the test result was negative, possible re-​test.
When I got home, my wife reminded that Dr. LaRoy could be wrong and I should try to just take some over-​the-​counter fever reduction stuff and drink plenty of water and see. Indeed, I got better after doing that the next day. I was wondering what would happen if I took the antibiotics for 10 days as prescribed by Dr. LaRoy.
My concern about Dr. LaRoy is: how come did he ignore the test result? Does he randomly decide whether to use /​trust the test result or not? To me, this seemed very un-​professional and I even think PAMF should remove him from the job.
In summary, I recommend anyone coming to PAMF to avoid Dr. LaRoy.

Dr LaRoy treated me at PAMF Urgent Care for injuries from a fall. He was kind, competent & efficient. I can’t imagine him acting in any other way.

Belated review that started as a letter to Richard Slavin (Palo Alto Medical Foundation CEO) and James Hereford (PAMF COO) based on surreal encounter with Dr. James LaRoy in PAMF’s Mountain View Urgent Care facility.
I visited urgent care at PAMF Mountain View last year after returning from a two week trip overseas — during the trip I contracted some kind of respiratory problem (possibly allergies, strep) — congestion, sore throat, cough etc. I was assigned to Dr. James LaRoy.
I described the symptoms above (and context) to both Dr. LaRoy and the intake nurse. I also explained that I had a prior history of ear infections and sinus congestion — which had been treated by my PAMF primary care physician using a combination of Flonase and antibiotics. Dr. LaRoy examined my ears and immediately pronounced them infection-​free. He did not examine my throat or breathing — even the intake nurse, after listening to the symptoms that I described assumed that Dr. LaRoy would examine my breathing because she requested that I remove my vest specifically to allow him to do so.
Dr. LaRoy also appeared offended at my suggestion that he review my prior history and proceeded to lecture me on the dangers of using antibiotics (apparently in sweden and other european countries, antibiotics are no longer used to treat throat/​ear infections???). Really unnecessary IMHO.
Here is the kicker: When I had the audacity to restate my request for antibiotics, he simply turned his back on me and walked out of the room. I followed him into the hallway and asked if there was anything else he could prescribe for my symptoms. Without turning around or breaking stride he said «End of discussion. No antibiotics». What a rude jackass! I complained to one of the front desk nurses who somehow came up with a Flonase prescription for me.
In fairness to the other PAMF doctors and staff, I should mention that I have been a customer of PAMF for over 7 years. Over that period of time, I have received excellent medical treatment and service from my primary care physician as well as nurses, other urgent care doctors and various specialists that I have had a need to see over the years. One bad apple shouldn’t spoil the bunch. .. so please read this review in that context.

We recently had an experience with Dr. Laroy that we are still trying to recover from, it was so devastating and unreal… I seriously thought I was in the Twilight Zone! I took my 21 year old in to Urgent care because his scrotum was the size of a grapefruit. My son has not been to the doctors since he was 18 because he didn’t think he needed to… I’ve been trying to convince him for the last two years since he is extremely overweight and he needs a doctor’s advice… finally, I got him in, yay!
I’ve been going to PAMF for 32 years and have never experienced ANYTHING REMOTELY close to what we did last Friday. My son went into the room alone, my first mistake, and came out 5 minutes later saying the doctor told him he’s too fat and to lose weight. I’m like, that’s it? So you need to live with a huge abdomen and scrotum filled with fluid? No tests? No diagnosis? No nothing!
I asked to see Mr. Laroy (I will call him because he should not have the title Dr.) and was put into a room. My son remained in the waiting room. He opens the door, stands there with an attitude and says «So, you have a question?» Not an introduction, not anything. Of course I was asking him questions about my son’s health and sharing some medical issues he’s had in the past and he says to me «are you trying to find an excuse for his obesity?» WHAT? As I responded professionally, that no I just want to be sure there is no underlying issues and how we can help him. I was telling him that we started a weight program together 2 weeks ago and I believe he’s lost about 20 lbs when this swelling started and now he replies «How do you know he’s lost weight?» Because I can tell by looking and I am doing the same exact program and I am 55 years old and lost 15 lbs, so I can imagine he lost a little more!!! Dumbass… He still has not explained why his scrotum is the size of a grapefruit and why is abdomen is full of fluid. Nothing! I then asked how much he weighed in at and his reply was «I don’t think we have a scale large enough to weigh him.» WTF… are you kidding me. I encouraged him to get off his carcass and go ask a nurse because this is ridulous, he comes back and of course found a scale, which was located right as patients walk in from the lobby. HELLO ! So the nurse went to get my son and he starts to walk out to meet them at the scale and tells me YOU MIGHT AS WELL COME TOO SO WE CAN SEE HOW BIG YOU ARE! Can you imagine such a ruthless, ignorant, belittling thing to say to a PAYING patient, who helps pay for his jaguar he is driving!
I asked my son on the way home, why did you decline getting weighed, and he told me without knowing what this jackass told me, and said «he told me he probably didn’t have a scale big enough»
We weighed and then for some reason he decides to pat my son on the back and say good luck! I had to get out of there before I got arrested. I called back since it was the weekend to see if it would be ok for him to live with all this fluid in his abdomen since he can hardly breath or walk… a nurse finally called us back the next day at 6:00 am, even though we were told he would call back that day since I made the call around 11:00 am.
We just returned from the doctors (the real doctors), who is very concerned about all the fluid and gave us some strong water pills and wants him back in two days, not to mention he is doing the blood work (to see if it’s a kidney/​liver issue) and also a chest xray to be sure he doesn’t have fluid entering his lungs… WTF…you mean Mr. Laroy could not do that at urgent care? My son had to suffer for 4 days before seeing a doctor.
This man needs to be removed immediately. While I love PAMF and have for 30 something years, I will NEVER return to urgent care in Mt. View until this man is removed. He has mental issues at the least…
Do not let this man care for you or your family members. By the way, the 5 star review for him is a PAID review, and you know that because it will remain at the top of his comments.
AS AN ADDITION (⁹⁄₂₅), I AM CURRENTLY SITTING IN THE HOSPITAL WITH MY SON WHO WAS ADMITTED LAST SUNDAY FOR CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE. MR. LAROY COMPLETELY MISSED IT BECAUSE HE CHOSE TO BE CRITICAL VS. TAKE ROUTINE TESTS. MY SON HAS 75 LBS OF FLUID BUILT UP IN HIS BODY FROM HIS HEART.

How is this guy a doctor at all??? Why is he still hovering over people’s lives???
EL Camino Hospital and Palo Alto Medical Foundation employ him?! El Camino is already such a terrible hospital, it does not surprise me that much, but PAMF is much better about patient care. I have encountered this man on two different occasions. I did not even thing to Unilocal him, and now that I know that I can warm other people about him, I have a moral duty to do so.
I am very serious here, I am starting to get anxiety about emergency rooms and urgent care around here! DR. James LaRoy is a mean and crass, bitter, angry little man. He was so unkind to me when I was in a lot of pain and in need of a kind, patient medical professional. He actually yelled at a staff member too, while gritting and grinding his teeth, spitting through his growls. I was *in shock* to see this! He then came toward me, and treated me as if he had no time for me. He asked me why I didn’t just stay home and suffer through the pain, because he would rather not deal with «insignificant people» like me. —This was just the first ‘hello’ too! Wow, what a scary place this suddenly became. I started having a panic attack because of this man’s blackened cold heart. He then got even ore annoyed and started attacking me with whispered threats for me to keep quiet and still, because HE was in charge of me.
These reviews sound almost like a bad movie plot or something. But if so many people are saying that this guy is a quack and a real a-​hole, then, come on people, he needs to be stopped!

I never write reviews. EVER. But I have to say this for the record, after reading a couple reviews written about LaRoy before I headed down to urgent care; I was experiencing a bit of trepidation.
I got there, and It was a clean and courteous environment, I filled out the paperwork (which was nominal) and was seated and relocated to the doctors room within 15 minutes. Simply wonderful. Then Doc LaRoy comes in and immediately I respected his candor and no nonsense approach. I could see how someone with security issues, or who is a bit «delicate» may not like his bedside manor (like espresso, strong and acquired taste). He asked some pertinent question, listened critically to my responses and any additional data that I provided (and even threw in some witty banter). Immediately following he had an assertive, effective plan to completely diagnose and treat my potential issues. Then to top it all off, with prescription included my OTD (out the door) total runs me only $ 225. A hell of a deal if you ask me, THANKS GUYS.
When I go into a medical professional I expect, respect, diligence, focus, and most importantly results. I’m not really looking for a buddy or someone to hug me and tell me Its all gonna be ok. The world is being dumbed down, idiot proofed and mediocrity rewarded. Grow up people!
After this experience I would highly recommend Doc LaRoy and the urgent care facilities for which he serves. The other staff (valerie @ the desk) was very polite and sadly, was surprised to hear my positive comments to her. I hope people find this review helpful and dont hesitate to use this organization.
Grimm

I have been going to Drs for some serious health problems for about 15 years now. So I have had my share of Drs from ER to clinics to specialists etc. Dr James LaRoy was THE SINGLE MOST HORRIFYING Dr I have ever ever ever seen! He instantly rolled his eyes at me when I stated that I have a rare illness (ME/​CFS) and he proceeded to tell me that I should have gone to a mental hospital instead of the ER. –I swear on life itself, I am a very very kind and patient person and I pride myself on my ability to connect with others and have forgiveness for a ‘bad day’ and such.
What Dr LaRoy did not know was that I am a trained professional in the field of Psychology, and I can assure you, if any one of MY Patients told me that they were treated so horribly, I would advise to write letters and make their voices heard! Drs should not have this much power over people, and they especially should not when they have no compassion and no heart! Literally, THE WORST Medical Doctor I have ever encountered in my entire life! He made me feel so scared, humiliated and belittled on every level. He made my medical symptoms WORSE in fact. The El Camino Hospital Emergency Room has made a grave mistake by having this man represent them… Please, if you encounter his wrath, do contact El Camino Hospital, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation about your experience. PAMF is very kind to patrons and their needs, you just have to tell them.
This man should absolutely be stripped of his title and fired immediately!
(I have never said such a thing in my entire life, but I mean this with every fiber of who I am.)
STAY FAR FAR AWAY from this DANGEROUS man!!!