For a change, rather than complaining or criticising, I am making a recommendation.

Yesterday I returned home from a week in hospital: the Isar Klinikum. I was there for another operation on my back to repair two prolapsed lumbar discs. I had a similar operation in 2020, but after that I managed to damage my back again (moving a washing machine), so I needed another operation.

My surgeon was again the head of the spinal department, Dr. Rothörl. Immediately after the operation I found that the pain in my left leg was gone, but, of course, I had pain from the incision in my back, and needed frequent intravenous pain medication (morphine). The nurses responsible for administering the morphine had other ideas about how often I should have it. In the end, Dr. Rothörl overruled them, and I was able to get my meds.

Talking to other patients, I discovered that Dr. Rothörl had done the same for most of them, fighting on behalf of his patients to get them what they needed. He also intervened on other issues of poor treatment and even non-medical services. The man is a hero to all his patients.

The Isar Klinikum is so much better than the Rechts der Isar where I was treated for high blood pressure and for a stroke:

• The diagnoses are more accurate;
• The treatment is better;
• The food is better;
• The staff are friendlier and more competent;
• The medical facilities are better;
• Waiting times are shorter;
• The Isar Klinikum is not a teaching hospital, so there is no pressure to opt for surgery when it is not needed.

Dr. Rothörl, in particular, is very attentive (he does rounds twice a day - at the Rechts der Isar it is once per day). He also meets my requirements for a good doctor:

1. He explains things;
2. He listens to his patients;
3. He treats his patients as customers;
4. He understands that the patient is in charge of their health, not the doctor, so that he does not try to give patients orders, rather recommendations.

I can't recommend Dr. Rothörl and the Isar Klinikum enough.