A Tennessee woman has filed a complaint with the Department of Health after visiting Dr. Timothy Sweo in April diagnosed her with "ghetto booty," referring to her lower back pain.
"He said 'I know what the problem is. It's ghetto booty,'" Terry Ragland, 55, told WREG-TV News Channel 3.
The information filed under the complaint will be presented to the Board of Medical Examiners officer, who will determine if there will be disciplinary action, according to reports.
"I think I blacked out after he said ghetto booty. I think my mind was just stuck on the phrase because I couldn't believe he said that," Ragland said.
This was not Ragland's first visit to this particular doctor's office, claiming she had been there several times before. However, it was her the first time she had a consultation with Sweo.
"It's one of those things where my hip seems to slip, like it's slipping out of place a little bit. It's painful when you get up to go walk it kind of slips, you know," Ragland said, referring to her lower back pain.
According to WREG-TV, Sweo sent Raglan for X-rays, and then gave his diagnosis. She could not believe his response when she asked Sweo about treatment options; Raglan claims he told her there was no cure for "ghetto booty" but he could prescribe her something to manage the pain.
Ragland immediately told office manager about what happened, and received an apology. Sweo also sent Raglan an apology letter, but it wasn't exactly remorseful.
"I was trying to take a technical conversation regarding your lower back and make it less technical," Sweo wrote in the letter, WREG-TV reports.
Ragland did not take too kindly to Sweo's words. She told WREG-TV his comments were inappropriate, demeaning and hopes to be the last patient to have to encounter this situation.
"It says to me that he doubts what type of intellect I have, how intelligent I am to be able to understand what he conveys to me in a medical term," said Ragland.
To read the full story of Ragland's ghetto booty diagnosis, click here.
