Dr. Shelba Bethel

Need to know,

Everyone has their own opinions as to who the best OB/GYN in Norman is. Kudos to those who feel that it's Dr. Porter, Dr. Potter, Dr. Mulligan (Dr. Bethel's daughter) or whoever else. They are great doctors as well and I would never write anything negative about them. I am in the middle of my first pregnancy with Dr. Bethel and she handled all of my gyno appointments up until the pregnancy as well. She is fantastic. I have read all of the negative and positive comments about her and I've never seen her not wash her hands, be unfriendly, or be rude to a patient. She IS very quiet, but I am a very talkative person, so I ask a lot of questions and she is quick to answer them as thoroughly as she possibly can. Quietness a personality trait, not an indicator on whether she is a great doctor or not, so I wouldn't even take that into consideration when you are choosing a doctor. As far as the comment about her handleing the miscarriage patient? I cannot see Dr. Bethel EVER being uncaring or unhelpful to a miscarriage patient. Quiet? Yes. To the point? Yes. But never EVER uncaring. She is very professional and thorough. Her office staff is amazing, her nurses are fantastic, and they always treat me (and other patients that I've seen/heard in there) well. She is an older woman and extremely wise. Dr. Bethel has delivered over 13,000 babies, and I'd have to say that I'm more than comfortable with having her deliver mine. She has my vote, but like I said previously, there are many doctors to choose from. Most of these negative stories I've read about Dr. Bethel either sound fabricated or largely over exaggerated.

Need to know wrote:

Can anyone inform me about this doctor. She has come highly recommended as and OB/GYN. I would like more than one opinion though. I am new to Norman.

I think Dr. Bethel is a wonderful Dr. I've never once doubted her competency. She is quiet (some of us are naturally that way) but she is always more than willing to answer any questions. Almost all my friends go to her. When one of my friends had her baby 5 yrs. ago, Dr. Bethel delivered the baby. She was not her reg. Dr. but the Dr. on call at the time. When they asked her how many babies she'd delivered it was over 20,000. And that was over 5 yrs. ago. Her bullitins in her office rooms are loaded with pictures of babies she's delivered for the last 30 some yrs. With my first pregnancy I had a different Dr. because of living in another state. With him we had to see whichever Dr. was in the office. When I went in for delivery my Dr. was leaving for vacation but wouldn't stay 4 hrs. to deliver him. I wasn't very impressed at all at the time but it turned out okay. I have loved to be able to use Dr. Bethel. Like my sis-in-law says... "she comes alive in the delivery room". You can tell she truly enjoys it. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I LOVE DR BETHEL!!! She is delivered myself my husband and my 2 kids. I will go to her until she retires. She knows her stuff. She has always been friendly to me. When my mother passed away she sent me a beautiful letter she had hand written saying how sorry she was for my loss. I was touched. She always asks how all my family is and has an excellent memory. I refer all my friends and family to her. She is old, yes, but can do her work the best!!!! She is very gentle and tells you everything up front.

Dr. Bethel delivered my first child and is currently seeing me for my second pregnancy!! She is the sweetest most caring lady who Loves what she does. I was 4 weeks preggo when i thought i was having a miscarriage, she got me in the next day for an ultrasound. I trust her with my life and the life of my unborn baby!!

She delivered my daughter 30 years ago. She is a quiet woman but very professional.

She delivered my youngest and was amazing. I love the sneak peaks she does. She is quit and to the point, but I like that in a Dr. I don't need them to give me a long drawn out explanation on anything. Every question I had she answered in simple terms I could understand and didn't try to impress me with her knowledge. She was extremely caring and compassionate when I was mean and rude with everybody who was within range and didn't deserve it. I highly recommend Dr. Bethel.

Dr. Bethel is a VERY quiet but yet awesome Dr. She was my Dr with our 2,3 and 4th pregnancy. I lost a baby with my old OB and then moved. Therefore I got Dr Bethel as my Dr. My Second Pregnancy my child was early and was sent straight to NICU. When she came in the next morning to do my check up she had already been in the nursery to check on him. She didn't have to do that as she is not and was not his pediatrician. She assured me he was fine and that when I was ready to go see him I could as I had not seen him since the evening before around 630 when they whisked him away. She was my dr through my third pregnancy up until I lost that baby. She was very supportive.(However, her daughter, Dr Mulligan, did my D & C and it was the night before Thanksgiving '08 and you could tell she wanted to be anywhere but there.) She also was my Dr through my 4th pregnancy and I had to go every other week the WHOLE pregnancy and she was nothing but nice and supportive. I just found out today I am pregnant and she will be my Dr again. I highly recommend her but you have to be used to a Dr that is quiet. She answers your questions thoroughly and I like that. Her being quiet gives you the time to ask the needed questions instead of trying to fight for her attention with her own words. LOVE Dr Bethel.

Dr. bethel delivered my niece.. My sister was dying while giving birth and dr. Bethel saved her life. Then a year lAter she delivered my daughter! She's amazing! Im pregnant now and she is my doctor :)

I have a first visit planned, with her, for next week. From what I am reading, it appears that she is probably quiet, but thorough. I like the fact that she is older. I am at that stage of life when things change for a woman. Wouldn't hurt to have hormones checked, also. It's a wait and see as to my rapport with her. I am not afraid, either, to ask questions about procedures. I don't see that as a challenge to a dr. Many actually like to educate.

Delivered me, my sisters children and my son. Quiet but amazingly thorough. She is a saint. What a kind and helpful spirit. Shame on you, it take maybe 15 min from Moore to Norman. Get a clue.

I know this late but for those you acting like Dr. Bethel is a Saint that never makes mistakes. Look up her medical records and lawsuits ( oscn.net ) then come back and praise her!

If this happened, it is because once looking at your insides and how it would work, Dr Bethel will absolutely make sure you get the right sling you need. If there was not one at the facility you were at, then maybe they are the one you need to point the finger at. Would you rather she put something in you that was wrong, just to get through it? This wonderful Dr kept with me from the very first sign of something wrong but tests could not determine what, until the first real sign of cancer. Because of how thorough she was with me at each stage to see what was going on, we caught it VERY early and no chemo or radiation was needed and I am alive today because of it. Question: if you feel she was in the wrong with you, why did she have to sue you for payment and not you sue her for malpractice??

Penny wrote:

RUN RUN RUN!!! This woman left me on hold, on the operating table, cut open and under anesthesia for 2.5 hours longer than necessary. This was a 1.5 hour surgery that took 4 hours to complete! During a simple, uncomplicated hysterectomy, MS. Bethel (I refrain from using the term 'Dr.') was also installing a 'bladder sling'. The Moore Hospital provided one-- but she decided it was 'the wrong model'- and sent someone from Moore, to Norman to get the 'right model'. the trip itself is between 45 minutes to an hour (one way) depending on the route & traffic. I was ON HOLD FOR PARTS!! Needless to say, she had to sue me to get money.

Dr Bethel delivered my daughters baby in December of 2011. When complications occured, she was there to take care of everything. She calmed my daughter and made her delivery a wonderful experience. There are many on here stating that she is unfriendly. I only met her once, during delivery and found her very professional, straight forward and trustworthy when it came to my daughter and granddaughters health. She is an old school doctor who has delivered thousands of babies, as well as taken care of many generations of families.

For those of you who have said some very nasty things about her, shame on you! Yes, there are other doctors that may be more conversational with you, but if I were going to choose a doctor, I would rather have one that is knowledgable and gets the medical condition under control and finds the best avenue for care.

Penny, You should get your facts straight before you bash someone online. You just made yourself look like a fool.

Normannobody, Unless you have seen her, you should not make a post about something that you can't prove. And by the way, during exams, gloves are worn.

So if you are seeking a OBGYN or baby doctor and are looking for someone who has several generations of experience and will make you feel safe and cared for, choose Dr. Bethel. She is absolutely wonderful.

A grandmother who cares!

Car wrote:

i know this may seem byist because she is my Grandma but she is amazing and notices things the lab wouldn't because of other previous experiences in other doctoring jobs. She is quiet but loves what she does

biased

biased

She cut something in stomache while in surgery. Sent me home where I fainted and had pain shotting from my neck through my back. I had to call the emergency room because no one was in the office to take my call. I had to have another surgery the next morning because I was bleeding out.

She has been my OBGYN for 5 years and I have never met the woman once. I have only seen nurses.

Penny wrote:

RUN RUN RUN!!! This woman left me on hold, on the operating table, cut open and under anesthesia for 2.5 hours longer than necessary. This was a 1.5 hour surgery that took 4 hours to complete! During a simple, uncomplicated hysterectomy, MS. Bethel (I refrain from using the term 'Dr.') was also installing a 'bladder sling'. The Moore Hospital provided one-- but she decided it was 'the wrong model'- and sent someone from Moore, to Norman to get the 'right model'. the trip itself is between 45 minutes to an hour (one way) depending on the route & traffic. I was ON HOLD FOR PARTS!! Needless to say, she had to sue me to get money.

I would say you were extremely fortunate to have a doctor who recognized the mistake and took appropriate action to obtain the correct model. I used to see Dr. Bethel 30 years ago and always felt comfortable with her. I'm now moving to Norman and am hoping she will see me again as a patient. Sounds to me like you should be grateful!