Do you remember me talking

[curiousforever]

about the doc that violated my hippa?

I finally got a letter stating that thru their investigation they did find that he violated my privacy by going to my husband and his commanding officers and telling them I'm a drug addict.

He's being disciplined and getting a letter of reprimand.

And I'm not a stinking drug addict. He was a new doc coming in and flipped out at the amount of meds I'm taking. He didn't look back to see that I had worked up to the dose I was at - and had been steady at that dose for months, and the old doc had said that amount is working - and I was exercising finally, etc....etc.

[BrokenBladder]

I do remember about you posting in regards to this earlier. Congradulations that they were able to prove he violated your hippa. He should be disciplined and get the letter of reprimand. What a horrible thing for him to have done in the first place!!
I hope you feel some better that the truth has come out.I know you must be frustrated that this happened in the first place but it sounds like it was handled well.

[lobelsteve]

Pain docs are notorious for "jumping the gun" in assessing new patients. I am working on cooling my jets before passing judgement. Either a patient with chronic migraines is referred and she is on 10 different meds, just saw her pain doctor last week, has had 20 procedures, none of which helped, and now is on my office as a new consult. I'm thinking nightmare.

The fellow calls me 10 minutes later and says: She refuses any medications, lists all the procedures that have not worked, all of the procedures shedoes not think would work, and hat she was stopping by to see me because I might have a new angle for her to try and get rid of her chronic daily migraine.
After catching my breath, I recommended 2 procedures that I do not think would work but were non-invasive to minimally invasive, and recommended seeing a Neurologist at a tertiary care headache clinic like Diamond.

A year ago I would have said- Dr. Shopper, drug addict, why me. So I'm starting to grow up as a doctor and it feels nice.

[suede]

CF,
congrats, it's great that you were able to get this far, I'm only sorry that you had to even go through the aggravation of being called a drug addict and all.

lobelsteve,
Your post put a smile on my face, how nice of you to admit that, not many would do that it goes to show what a good person you are.
Linda

[simby]

CF,
lobelsteve,
Your post put a smile on my face, how nice of you to admit that, not many would do that it goes to show what a good person you are.
Linda

i agree. Doc, its so refreshing to hear a doctor say that. I know we must seem desperate sometimes (well, often) but that is because we hang our hopes on the doctor to do something to help the pain.
So thank you for realizing that we aren't all drug addicts.

[Pharmacist.steve]

So I'm starting to grow up as a doctor and it feels nice.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB ... those healthcare professionals that see past (or thru) the unintentional "red flags" that these chronic painers are waving...

[BrokenBladder]

A year ago I would have said- Dr. Shopper, drug addict, why me. So I'm starting to grow up as a doctor and it feels nice.[/QUOTE]


LS, I'm so proud of you!! Do you mind if I say that one more time? I'm really proud of you. Thanks for being part of this board you are an asset!!:)

[Lea]

I'm so glad that HIPPA finally worked the way it is suppose to and that will probably be the last time that doc pulls a stunt like that.

Lobelsteve,

I used to have skewed view of patients coming in with large amounts of pain meds. I've seen both sides now that I have been a CP patient for 3 years. We come into the medical field because we are passionate about providing care for others, but it is so easy to get jaded and pass judgement.

If someone had told me I would be taking opiates everyday 10 years ago, I would have never believed it. Thank God I finally found an excellent PM who has taken such good care of me and tells me how motivated I am and how proud he is that I have been able to get back to work. I had to kiss two toads before I landed in his office. I'm glad that you are growing in the care of your patients. I hope that I can continue to grow as well.

[Mark N]

curiousforever, I am glad that things worked out for you,

Steve, it is refreshing to hear a health care professional make the statement you have. We must grow every year if we are to get better, only those that are willing to decline have nothing more to learn.

[alex44]

to judge you - as in judge not lest you be judged. I know my earlier comments were harsh but your views seemed harsh also. I am glad you are perhaps looking at things a bit differently, with more insight into what it is like to be in pain 24/7. Thank you and keep up the good work.
Alex

[curiousforever]

Bringing this up again - cause hubby was told some of the guys want to beat him up cause we reported the doc.

Being the doc was in the same unit they say we shouldn't have done it.

Did I do the right thing by reporting it?

[suede]

CF,
I'm saddened to hear that these guys are being so immature as to make these threats, I'm sure that if these guys are real men they would have done the same thing if it was their wives being insulted and having such accusations made against them.
By all means you did the right thing.
Let's hope that your DH does not get any repercussions for having done the right thing..
Linda

[jena1225]

Bringing this up again - cause hubby was told some of the guys want to beat him up cause we reported the doc.

Being the doc was in the same unit they say we shouldn't have done it.

Did I do the right thing by reporting it?

What, are these guys in kindergarten or what! Geez, come on :eek: That is the stupidist thing I have heard in a long time. Of course you did the right thing! Those men are old enough to know that too. I cannot believe the mentality of some people in our Armed Forces! Call me naive, but that shocks me :mad:

I also hope there is no harm done to your DH, but perhaps you can knock some sense into the wives of these herks? Not sure if you are friends or not, but perhaps a conversation would help?

Sorry CF, that really sucks :(

[ICU2]

Bringing this up again - cause hubby was told some of the guys want to beat him up cause we reported the doc.

Being the doc was in the same unit they say we shouldn't have done it.

Did I do the right thing by reporting it?


Setting aside the whole, WWRMD? (what would real men do) in a situation like this, IT'S ILLEGAL! Would we turn the guy in if we knew he stealing medication and selling it to turn a profit for himself? YES! Would we turn him in if we knew he deliberately administered the wrong medication which led to a person's death? YES! Sorry, but there's no difference IMO. If there is, who determines where that line is drawn. He not only violated your right to privacy, but his oath to office by disclosing this information! That sort of thing is VERY serious, as it's not a kind-hearted Dr. making a mistake during a procedure, (which is obviously still serious. I don't want to minimize that sort of thing), but rather an ignorant, ill will seeking one, making a concious decision to break the law.

What a joke that those jarheads want to rough up your husband. :mad: Don't second guess yourself, you absolutely did the right thing!

[Joey54]

Adults who use hostility or threats of violence to get their way are children unable to play well with others.

Joey

[mrsdoubtfyre]

I just attended a 10 hr medical conference given by a tertiary care specialty
clinic in my state. It was just excellent.

If you Google "medication overuse headache" Dr. Lobel, you can read some
interesting new data on how opiates actually CAUSE headaches.
Which medications cause medication-overuse headache and how much is too much? Almost all symptomatic medications have the potential to cause medication-overuse headache if used too frequently. Having said that, experts believe that some medications have a higher potential than others. Studies suggest that butalbital-containing drugs (i.e., Fiorinal and Fioricet), narcotics, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ergot compounds (e.g., Cafergot), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and the migraine-specific drugs known as the triptans may be the most common culprits. Dihydroergotamine (Migranal Nasal Spray), antiemetics (used for both headache and nausea), COX-2 inhibitors (e.g., Celebrex), and straightforward aspirin are thought to have a very low risk. Generally speaking, experts advise patients to avoid taking symptomatic medications more than two days per week. We do not know how long it takes to develop this condition, but some suggest it can occur within a few short months.
from http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/full/66/12/E43
First thing this clinic does, is detox all patients in the hospital off their drugs.

Dr. Rozen was excellent...and he accepts emails from doctors...
This paper was a portion of the presentation:
http://www.touchneurology.com/cluster-headache-diagnosis-treatment-a1880-1.html
Since this paper, he has been using Melatonin 9mg a day for cluster!

If you have access to this journal, try this paper...
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/citation/61/6/865

[razmataz]

Pain docs are notorious for "jumping the gun" in assessing new patients. I am working on cooling my jets before passing judgement. Either a patient with chronic migraines is referred and she is on 10 different meds, just saw her pain doctor last week, has had 20 procedures, none of which helped, and now is on my office as a new consult. I'm thinking nightmare.

The fellow calls me 10 minutes later and says: She refuses any medications, lists all the procedures that have not worked, all of the procedures shedoes not think would work, and hat she was stopping by to see me because I might have a new angle for her to try and get rid of her chronic daily migraine.
After catching my breath, I recommended 2 procedures that I do not think would work but were non-invasive to minimally invasive, and recommended seeing a Neurologist at a tertiary care headache clinic like Diamond.

A year ago I would have said- Dr. Shopper, drug addict, why me. So I'm starting to grow up as a doctor and it feels nice.

lobel steve...can you talk to MY DOC? just kidding..but I am a chronic daily headache patient..with "possibly transformed....due to cervical radiculopathy,... migraines..(the latter, since age 8). My "newer daily" headaches ALL stem from trigger points in my neck/shoulders coupled with neuropathic pain and dysesthesia. These headaches are a combined result of whiplash in '98 and lifting mishap 4 years ago. I have refused shots to neck(scared) from pain "doc" anesthesiologist....tried neurontin...no go..even at lowest dose took me to my knees..

Now I am on Lyrica 25 mgs. per day ..worked fairly well ...for 2 weeks but it lowers my BP from a little above normal to low 100's /over mid 60's so I am afraid to titrate..My doc sent me to a "headache specialist" who diagnosed the wastebasket deal...."atypical facial pain" and rule out?...trigeminal neuralgia...I might have fibro too per my PT doc..however GP calls it UCTD...

am in constant pain...so much that I cannot commute to a pain clinic or anywhere else on a regular basis...Any ideas? would be very much appreciated. I take Fioricet/demerol for high BP headaches and 9 motrin per day with 1/4 flexaril occasionally..as it tires me out.

TIA..

Razmataz

[razmataz]

Bringing this up again - cause hubby was told some of the guys want to beat him up cause we reported the doc.

Being the doc was in the same unit they say we shouldn't have done it.

Did I do the right thing by reporting it?


Beat up your husband for YOU being HONEST...what a skewed sense of reality...You absolutely did the right thing reporting your doc...chronic pain patients have enough to worry about without false accusations..WE NEED HELP...congrats to you for your actions.

Razmataz

[curiousforever]

THanks for the reassurances. Being the military - some are making it a problem.

Doc has no issue with me - I've seen him around and he smiles - I smile. Matter of fact my 8 yo boy has his daughter as a 'girlfriend'. You should have seen hubby's face when we found out!

It's the 'supposed to look out for each other' thing...and I worry that I've messed up hubby's career.

[razmataz]

CF...

It was your character, integrity that was violated...when all is said and done, what else do we have?..that is important. If the situation were reversed...I am willing to bet your husband would have done the same thing and you would have wanted him to...I think that kind of support is really how we look out for each in the most meaningful ways.

Razmataz

[Mark N]

CF, You did the right thing however, there is a different culture in the military because of the need to count on each other much more than in civilian life. Whether others understand the culture or not it exist. It is clear by the doctor's action that you took the appropriate action. Let your husband deal with the guys in his unit because he should be able to get the right message through to them and they should understand being responsible for your actions [the doctor being responsible for his actions in this case].

[Kathi49]

cf,

I, personally, think you did the right thing. And Mark is right about the "culture". You know how it is. Hopefully, it will all die down and your husband can get the message across to the others.

[neckbaby]

you absolutely did the right thing.
But how did everyone else find out about this?
Wasn't this kept private?
If not it should have been.
isn't that another HIPPA issue ?
Neckbaby