Today something terrible happened to me. I overdosed on heroin, and my girlfriend found me (lips blue, not breathing, rigid body, and pale face) and woke me up and took me to the hospital, as I was barely able to stay conscious and ceased breathing when asleep.
After waiting in the hospital for an ungodly amount of time (while puking/uncontrollably passing out in the waiting room), I was finally able to see a doctor. However, when he entered the room, rather than asking me about the symptoms I had, he said "so you might've taken too much heroin" and proceeded to lecture to me about how it is impossible to only use heroin occasionally, that I was physically dependent upon it (despite me insisting otherwise). He kept repeating that narcotics are super addictive, adding inane facts like that human trafficking trade uses narcotics. During a lull in this, I informed him that I had come to the ER because my girlfriend found me unconscious, not breathing, and with blue lips, and each subsequent nod was accompanied by a cessation in breathing. He told us that we should have called an ambulance rather than driving to the hospital, because I could have died in the car and EMTs have nalaxone on hand. He then asked why I had come, because "people usually want something when they come to the hospital." I told him that I wanted nalaxone, to which he responded "We don't give nalaxone to people like you." He told me he could give me clonodine and anti-naseau pills instead for the withdrawls (that I repeatedly told him I didn't have).
Hours later, my breathing stops when I fall asleep, so I am forcing myself to stay awake despite being exhausted. My lips and fingers have blue tinges to them, and I have a hospital bill coming for absolutely fucking nothing. But mostly, I am angry that this doctor, who had his own agenda, was too busy trying to press his agenda upon me than actually treating my overdose symptoms. Is there any way to file a complaint against this man, or to somehow hold him responsible for not doing his job? This is in a public Emergency Room, by the way.
After waiting in the hospital for an ungodly amount of time (while puking/uncontrollably passing out in the waiting room), I was finally able to see a doctor. However, when he entered the room, rather than asking me about the symptoms I had, he said "so you might've taken too much heroin" and proceeded to lecture to me about how it is impossible to only use heroin occasionally, that I was physically dependent upon it (despite me insisting otherwise). He kept repeating that narcotics are super addictive, adding inane facts like that human trafficking trade uses narcotics. During a lull in this, I informed him that I had come to the ER because my girlfriend found me unconscious, not breathing, and with blue lips, and each subsequent nod was accompanied by a cessation in breathing. He told us that we should have called an ambulance rather than driving to the hospital, because I could have died in the car and EMTs have nalaxone on hand. He then asked why I had come, because "people usually want something when they come to the hospital." I told him that I wanted nalaxone, to which he responded "We don't give nalaxone to people like you." He told me he could give me clonodine and anti-naseau pills instead for the withdrawls (that I repeatedly told him I didn't have).
Hours later, my breathing stops when I fall asleep, so I am forcing myself to stay awake despite being exhausted. My lips and fingers have blue tinges to them, and I have a hospital bill coming for absolutely fucking nothing. But mostly, I am angry that this doctor, who had his own agenda, was too busy trying to press his agenda upon me than actually treating my overdose symptoms. Is there any way to file a complaint against this man, or to somehow hold him responsible for not doing his job? This is in a public Emergency Room, by the way.
