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  • BDD Moderators: Keif’ Richards

Can my pain doctor just FIRE ME?

I totally understand and agree that he is free to decide that he no longer wants me as a patient, for whatever reason, but does he not have a responsibility to give me enough meds to reasonably cover the time it will take me to find a new doctor? I'd think one month would be fair, but he was prepared to kick me out without even a day! Ultimatelty he gave me a week, but since it started on a wed it really only gives me 3 days to find a new doctor who will give me a perscription until I run out sometime over the weekend....

What can I do? Especially considering that without my meds I will go into serious withdrawls, isn't there some recourse I have? Any ideas on what I might say to my "current" doctor to at least get one more week of meds so i have a reasonable amount of time to find a new doctor?

And what do I tell a potential new doctor? Obviously if I tell him all this he's going to look at me like the plague. On the other hand, I'd like to think that the fact that I've only had 2 doctors in 6 years is evidence that i'm not doctor shopping and am looking to have a long term doctor, which I figure is what they are most interested in... Thanks guys!
 
Were you seeing a pain doc which takes insurance or cash only? You could start with phoning this one and telling them that you have not been able to find a new doctor yet. As a courtesy, he might take pity on you and give you another week's worth depending on his mood.
 
I've been paying him cash since my insurance ran out last year...

I guess I have no choice but to ask him for another week... if anyone has any ideas on things I might say to help it go my way that would be great. I HATE playing the malpractice card, but it was only when I told him it sounded like malpractice to kick me out without my meds, knowing I'll withdraw, that he was willing to give me anything... it just makes me feel like a prick to threaten a doctor with something like that.
 
No I wouldn't mention malpractice again. You have to pretty much ask nicely and remind him that you will be suffering. I hope you can make some calls tomorrow and find out if there are any doctors that can see you soon. Be prepared to bring your MRI's or x-rays and sometimes doctors will accept your prescription records. If you don't have them, you can get duplicates from your pharmacy. When you make the calls, you could just say that your doctor was not available to fit your schedule which is not lying and you need continued care.


EDIT: I need to emphasize that we cannot get into "suing talk" as legal discussion is not allowed here. Thanks!
 
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T. Calderone said:
No I wouldn't mention malpractice again. You have to pretty much ask nicely and remind him that you will be suffering. I hope you can make some calls tomorrow and find out if there are any doctors that can see you soon. Be prepared to bring your MRI's or x-rays and sometimes doctors will accept your prescription records. If you don't have them, you can get duplicates from your pharmacy. When you make the calls, you could just say that your doctor was not available to fit your schedule which is not lying and you need continued care.


EDIT: I need to emphasize that we cannot get into "suing talk" as legal discussion is not allowed here. Thanks!
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Not to be a dick, but isnt this helping someone acquire drugs from a doctor? Isn't that against BLUA?
Just an observation. No hate to anyone here.
 
My point of view with this thread is if my doctor is acting ethically, it's not about me getting drugs. I mean ultimately this entire forum is about getting drugs and safely using them, but this specific case is about a doctor telling a patient he doesn't want to continue the relationship and doing so without warning and without giving that patient the tools he needs to comfortably and safely find a new doctor...

I tried to ask my doctor for advice in finding a new doctor and he literally just opened his door and YELLED at me to GET OUT! I just don't see how that is justifiable behavior, especially since I was acting normally. I expressed regret at the things he was was unhappy about and tried to explain that I didn't agree that a handful of issues over the course of 3 years makes me a "problem patient." I asked him what I could do to change his mind and he just wouldn't have it.

I mean when it comes to serious narcotics like these, isn't it expected that there will sometimes be bumps in the road? Isn't that WHY we are supposed to have specific pain management doctors? To help guide us through these problems?

In all honesty, although it will sound like sour grapes right now, I probably should be looking for a different doctor anyway. His temper and poor memory has always bothered me. I mean when he was suggesting that I was a problem patient who didnt need narcotics he had FORGOTTEN that I had back surgery a few years back to deal with the pain! He made me show him my scar, it was kind of embarassing. And he still kicked me out, not wanting to renew my script or even discuss finding a new doctor with me.

I want to emphasize that at no point did I ever raise my voice or get upity. I maintained my composure and good attitude the entire time, even after he began yelling at me. If anything, I tried to express my fear and trepidation over what he was doing to me, hopijng he would see reason.

For what it's worth, once or twice in the recent past he had also said he was no longer interested in being my doctor, but on follow up visits either changed his mind or didn't recall saying so. In fact the last time I told him that he had said he didnt want to be my doctor anymore he expressed shock and completely dismissed the idea, so how i'm supposed to react to all this I don't know...
 
Dude, you need to report this punk ass doctors behaviour to the atppropriate authorities.

I have a feeling you're not his first and only victim to such abhorrent behaviour. Seems to have somewhat of a god complex and an absolutely disgusting personality for a doctor to be yelling and insulting you, forcing you out of his practice with quite the cunt attitude.
 
nsauce said:
Not to be a dick, but isnt this helping someone acquire drugs from a doctor? Isn't that against BLUA?
Just an observation. No hate to anyone here.
Click to expand...

Since the OP is already in pain management, I don't see it that way. But it is a slippery slope and I appreciate your candor. One thing I forgot to mention, you will need to provide the documentation and medical records of your original accident which led you to pain management to begin with. Let us know how it goes.
 
Hit your local er's when your pain gets outta control and explain that u need a referal to see a new gp. Once u get in with new the new dr, if he won't write, then he will refer u to a new pm dr if it's deemed that u need narcotic meds...
It worked for me so it just might work out for you. It'll probably take a few months of bullshit but sometimes it's the only way. Good luck!!
 
^not sure about the US but in australia the ER ain't going to give a referral to s GP. A specialist, yeah. But why would you need ine for a GP?

As T.Calderone said. Get your files and reports together and find a GP who'll treat you or give a referral to the appropriate specialist.
 
By the way, why would this doctor even suggest I go to the emergency room if I'm in withdrawls when he should very well know they don't do anything... this doctor is pushing 70 and has been "in the business" for a very long time, so it's not like he doesn't know what the world is like. Personally, I think he was just trying to get me to leave - when he refused to give me a script for the time it would take me to find a new doctor, I asked him what I should do when I run out and start to withdraw. "Go to the emergency room," he said.

Seriously?

First of all, he knows I don't have insurance and paying him and for my meds is hard enough. So from a financial standpoint, he shouldn't even be thinking about telling me to go to the ER. But on top of that, as has been well documented in this forum, ERs don't do anything for you if you show up in withdrawls and out of medication.

Of course if I tried to have this conversation with him, within 30 seconds he would lose his temper and use THIS as an example of how I am a problem patient and why he no longer wants to be my doctor...

If I tell all this to a potential NEW doctor when he asks why I am looking for a new doctor, is he likely to see me as a problem or will he agree that my current doc is a jerk?

How curious will a potential new doctor be about my old doctor any why I am switching? Or will he be more interested in my medical history and simply want to see evidence that I am in need of this medication... and I have a long history of taking it? Considering the situation I obviously would prefer to not even discuss my current doctor, but I don't know if that will even be an option...
 
You don't need to mention all the bulldhit he's been saying to degrade you but, he will want copies of your medical records from the previous surgery.

You could go in as a new patient, mention your problems and a plan of action you'd like to take - starting with a clean slate.
 
I feel for you OP I really do, but for future reference never ever, even if you fall and break your arm take more than you are Rx'ed at least without calling in to tell him that is what you are doing...I mean you can't just double dose if you are having a bad pain day and expect the Dr, to just write you a new Rx especially if C2 like Dilaudid is. I am on 2 c2 pains meds and even though my pharmacy would refill them every 28 days and he schedules my appts every 28 'days he makes me go 31 days meaning I have to run out of both at night and then on the 31st day I can go first thing to get my rx'es

I know some Dr's are a pain in the ass, they don't like you to diagnose yourself especially I have found, and Although I love my new pain dr I have had for the last year he does not like me to talk much...get to the details and let them talk...a lot of them have god complexes and they always know what is best. I know it is heartless to just fire a pain patient who needs those meds so much. But here at least in the Nazi state I live in I have heard many patients being fired for much less than you have stated. It sucks and I am sorry, I hope you find a new Dr soon! And for what it is worth your Dr does seem to be one asshole of a Dr. He must be having some issues you don't know about!
 
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