We contacted Mayo Clinic with hope and trust, looking for a possible treatment for my father, who suffers from a complex coronary condition considered "inoperable" in Italy.From the very beginning, we made it clear that - living in Europe - we would only be able to travel to the U.S. if a surgical or interventional possibility could be confirmed after reviewing the medical records.We were told that a review would be carried out and were even asked to provide additional testing, including a new angiography - which we did entirely upon Mayo Clinic’s request. We submitted everything: translated reports, DICOM files, clinical summaries, and filled out every form carefully.After months of effort, back-and-forth emails, and respectful communication, we were finally told that no possible treatment direction can be discussed unless we come in person, which completely contradicts what we had been told at the outset.To make matters worse, we were informed that the person who had been following our case from the beginning no longer works there, and that we should now simply "decide" whether to come - without any indication or reassurance, despite having provided everything required.This approach may work for local patients who live a few hours away. But for a fragile international patient, expected to travel across the ocean without a single preliminary indication, it is not only impractical ...it is deeply dehumanizing.The disappointment is not just medical. It is human.I write this in the hope that Mayo Clinic will consider not only the excellence of its clinical services, but also the importance of clarity, consistency, and empathy - especially when working with international patients who are already navigating pain, risk, and hope from afar.
