Finding a psychiatrist is difficult enough. When you're struggling with your mental health, finally securing an appointment after weeks of waiting can feel like a lifeline. But what happens when that lifeline is repeatedly cut?
For numerous patients of Dr. Eleni Charitonidi, a psychiatrist practicing in Geneva Switzerland, and on the online booking platform onedoc.ch, this has become a distressing reality. Her Google rating currently stands at just 2.8 out of 5 based on 11 reviews—a score that, upon closer inspection, reflects a deeply troubling pattern of behavior.
Good Credentials but Alarming Practice
On paper, Dr. Charitonidi presents an nice profile. She graduated from medical school in 2010, completed postgraduate training in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, and later worked at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève, where she was promoted to senior physician. She holds a Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Lausanne and a Master's degree in e-Health Policies.
But patient experiences tell a very different story.
A Recurring Pattern of Cancellations
One of the most frequent complaints is the abrupt cancellation of appointments—often after patients have waited weeks or even months.
One patient reported that their appointment, booked seven weeks in advance, was cancelled by SMS just 17 hours before the scheduled time and rescheduled without any consultation. The patient wrote: "I am really appalled by the lack of human touch and sensitivity that this doctor has shown... coming across a doctor that treats you as a human being and not as a credit card number, as I felt treated here, makes a huge difference."
Another patient, who had been prescribed antidepressants and struggled to stop them, reported needing support only to have appointments cancelled three times in a row. The patient noted: "Cancelling my appointments 3 times is no coincidence. She never even provided me the reason. Whatever the reason was there is no excuse for a good, professional doctor caring about her patients."
Impersonal, Medication-Focused Care
Beyond cancellations, multiple patients described consultations as rushed and superficial. One reviewer wrote: "Even when I was at my lowest mentally, I did not feel any interest in applying psychotherapy... The focus seemed to be solely on medication." Sessions supposedly lasting one hour often lasted only 10-15 minutes.
Another patient described Dr. Charitonidi as "highly impersonal and difficult to communicate with, even when she is prescribing medication," and accused her of providing an "irresponsibly low standard of care."
Billing Without Consent
Patients have also raised concerns about being invoiced for administrative tasks without prior consent. One reviewer noted that Dr. Charitonidi's office would "without the patients knowing consent, issue an invoice for one line emails (even when the emails did not properly address the issues at hand)."
The Provider's Response: Defensive, Not Reassuring
Dr. Charitonidi's office has responded to several negative reviews. While some acknowledge patient feedback, others appear defensive. In one reply, the secretarial team stated: "Medical administrative work is billable by the TARMED law in Switzerland... Patient's consent is not required for that."
In response to criticism about short sessions, the office suggested that being in a different location might have caused issues—despite consultations being exclusively online. The patient responded: "I am stunned by this lack of self-reflection. Have you at least considered that the problem during this 'follow-up' was not a lack of communication on my part but a lack of listening on yours?"
A Criminal Complaint Has Been Filed
The situation has escalated to the point where a formal criminal complaint has been filed with the Geneva Public Prosecutor's Office. The complaint alleges medical negligence, breach of professional duties, and violation of the obligation to provide care under the Swiss Criminal Code.
The complaint details how a confirmed appointment was unilaterally cancelled without any notification—no call, no message, no email. The patient was left waiting for a consultation that never happened, with no explanation provided.
The complaint further argues that this behavior is not isolated but systemic and recurring, citing multiple online reviews that corroborate a consistent pattern: abusive cancellations, lack of listening, rushed practice, and absence of serious therapeutic follow-up.
For a patient seeking an ADHD diagnosis and appropriate medication, this cancellation—without any notice—delays access to care and prolongs a situation of suffering.
Why This Matters
Mental health care requires trust, empathy, and reliability. When a patient finally gathers the courage to seek help, being cancelled on—especially multiple times—can be devastating. It reinforces feelings of worthlessness and abandonment at a time when patients are most vulnerable.
As one reviewer wisely put it: "If you only need a medication prescription and that's possible in your case, I would recommend going through your general practitioner. But if you are looking for genuine therapeutic follow-up, I think it's better to consider other options."
Final Thoughts
If you are considering booking with Dr. Eleni Charitonidi, proceed with caution. While her credentials may look impressive on paper, the pattern of last-minute cancellations, impersonal care, defensive responses, and now a criminal complaint raises serious red flags.
Your mental health is too important to leave in the hands of a provider who may not prioritize your well-being. Do your research, read the reviews, and choose a psychiatrist who will treat you with the respect, empathy, and reliability you deserve.
