quincy
Board Addict
Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
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I was just wondering if anyone has ever been discharged from a doctors care. A family member of mine was "fired" from his doctors care because he was labeled a "drug seeker." I think this is a horrible, embarrassing situation but I was told it was very common. Can doctors really ban you from seeing them? Can't they be sued for that? 
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MrB
Old Hand
Reged: 12/12/01
Posts: 488
Loc: Rhode Island
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My best friend, whi is dead now thanks to Oxycontin, dilaudid and about 6 other drugs could sweet talk anyone into giving him what he wanted. It always shocked me that docs would continue to treat him. He would call in like a con man and manage to have the doc call something in or fill one early, etc.
Now, if you friend was let go form his/her doc, then is it possible that he/she is an addict and would try some of the above tactics? I am not saying this is the case but most docs would not let an honest person go unless something was really wrong, especially if your friend has been seeing this doc for a while.
MrB
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"I aint fallin for no banana in my tailpipe!"
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quincy
Board Addict
Reged: 11/07/02
Posts: 333
Loc: pacific northwest
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Well, this person dosen't nearly take as many narcotics as I do. He has a chronic pain problem, but hasn't been properly diagnosed. I think he has fibro, but his doctor absolutly refuses to consider that. I have told Don (my friend) to find a new doc, but he has been seeing this guy for about six years. For two of those years he has been having intermittent pain in his back and legs, bad enough to miss work. He is not a "complainer" either. He is pretty tough, but this pain is debilitating for him. The doctor prescribed narcotics for awhile, then tried all of the other non-narcotic meds like Vioxx, NSAIDS, antidepressants. Like most of us, the narcotic meds worked the best, but he knew his doc wouldn't agree. He should have got a second opinion the minute that doc couldn't or wouldn't find a cause of his pain. But he trusted him. Last week he went to see this doc on an emergency basis bacause the pain was so severe. He started crying to the doctor and I think he had an anxiety attack. I have never seen him cry before, so I know he was hurting bad. He also had not received narcotics for about four months, he didn't need them. I don't think he specifically asked for them on this visit either, but the doc assumed he wanted them. The doctor just told him he was hysterical, making a fool of himself and that he was not going to give him any drugs. He said there was no reason for him to be having pain and told him the pain was in his head. My friend just walked out, humiliated and went to the ER that night, where he was taken care of. He also got a referral to a rheumatologist. The next day a certified letter arrived stating he was being discharged. I don't think he was simply an addict. I think he had an uncaring doctor who was too lazy to look into his pain problem. I also think that many of us have gone through similar situations, I know I have. I just wanted to get some feedback on this incident.
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moonshade
Old Hand
Reged: 12/01/02
Posts: 475
Loc: searching for my lost shaker o...
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See if there are any "pain management" specialists in your area. I've heard they are generally more compassionate.
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Beetlenut
Threadhead
Reged: 09/09/02
Posts: 765
Loc: Colorado
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Quote:
The doctor just told him he was hysterical, making a fool of himself and that he was not going to give him any drugs.
How absolutely humiliating for your friend. Quite frankly, there have been many times when I've broken down crying in my doctor's office. This only seems to happen when I am running a high fever (say, 103+) and ache all over, have a sore throat, trouble breathing, etc. For some reason, I just get really tearful when I am very sick like this. I don't know why it happens, it just does, and I hate it !!!!!
I also think that when you're very sick like this you just feel awfully vulnerable, too.
That's probably the best thing that happened to your friend-at least he found another doctor.
I thought part of the hippocratic oath was "Do no harm." Sounds to me like this doc should be reminded of that little fact.
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baddad56
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 281
Loc: Midwest
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I walked out of a hospital in 88' because a surgeon was going to do surgery (abdominal pain) but wouldn't tell me why. I went to an intern who ordered some more tests. In the meantime he got my records from the hospital, found out that I AMA'd and refused to see me again. Another doc immediatly took my case. So I guess the doctor can fire you if he's unhappy about something.
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ecpg
Newbie
Reged: 09/04/02
Posts: 30
Loc: Northwest
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It's my understanding her in the US that a doctor can terminate you for any reason but has to notify you in writing and give you a reasonable time to find a new dr (usually a couple of weeks of emergency care at least).
We terminated people for being annoying, so yes it is common. But, it seems to me that the dr is leaving himself open for malpractice by not giving a time period to find a new dr.
Some drs just don't understand how to deal with pain, so they don't.
Sorry about your friend.
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I used to get high on life, but then I developed a tolerance.
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Sky_Queen
Fly Girl
Reged: 12/03/02
Posts: 1985
Loc: Texas
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I think if I were your friend I would write that doc off, good riddance!! Jerk. He needs to find a new doctor, maybe a pain management clinic. There ARE doctors out there that are compassionate, just hard to find.
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Felicia
Newbie
Reged: 01/21/03
Posts: 41
Loc: Planet Earth
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The doc can terminate in the US, but it must be done in writing and they must give you 30 days of care and that includes your meds. If they don't, they can get in serious trouble.
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blenderbabe59
Newbie
Reged: 01/02/03
Posts: 29
Loc: Florida
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As said before, find a pain management doc. I did, and my pain was treated . Eventually , I found a drug combo to work for me.
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Daycamp72
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 289
Loc: Tara
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Quincy:
Check your PMs. I sent you my horror story about being DROPPED by a surgeon while I was getting over my 9th (!) surgery for breast cancer reconstruction.
The fun part was that he had prescribed to me a TON of narcotics over that 13 months and left me COLD TURKEY!!!!
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kenny
Enthusiast
Reged: 01/12/03
Posts: 201
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Sorry to say this, But your friend is probably better off finding a new DR that will treat this person with respect. I know it's hard to find a good DR. The DR's office should at least send a letter explaining as to why he's dropping him.
Best of luck to your friend
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Daycamp72
Enthusiast
Reged: 06/29/02
Posts: 289
Loc: Tara
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ecpq:
"Some drs just don't understand how to deal with pain, so they don't."
Very well said.........
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lakjaw
Veteran
Reged: 11/22/02
Posts: 551
Loc: Planet Zartran
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Quincy~
Sounds like your friend was a patient of the last physician I had in Spokane when I lived there, and he was a complete south end of a north-bound skunk. Your friend may not yet realize it, but he is lucky to be rid of that "physician". Many people who have genuine diseases are accused of displaying "drug seeking behavior". . . and they are! However, that behavior is entirely reasonable, considering the debilitation and pain. I do hope your friend will ask around and get some good recommendations for a compassionate physician who will take care of him and not cause him more harm.
BTW, I fired that doctor! Told him that he was more interested in hearing himself make noise rather than listen to me, and that he wanted to be "right", no matter whether he was or was not!
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When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Usually,that individual is crazy.
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