Ethical Dilemma - Pain Management Message Board

dckatz2001 · 08-13-2004, 12:48 PM

I just had the following conversation with someone who I met online from a back pain chatroom on Yahoo. I have been messaging this person for about 7 months and have never known them to do anything like this. I have no idea what, if anything, to do. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

The names have been changed but everything else is intact other than * edits to make the language more suitable.

Jane: yes I'm selling those extra pills I have I'm so desperate

Jane: my daughters boyfriend is getting rid of them for 300

Me: You're kidding about selling the pills I hope.

Jane: no I'm not, i have to feed my kids

Me: hmm

Jane: i'm so down I feel like giving up

Me: but selling those pills is a BAD idea

Jane: i know but its f***ing hard, those d**n insurance people

Me: you could get in a lot of trouble. Plus, how would you feel if the person who bought them illegally overdosed on YOUR pills and died?

Me: You know that the person who buys them will be a drug addict. It won't be someone who legitimatelly needs them (not that it's all right if someone who has legitimate pain issues buys them illegally). This kind of thing gives people who take them legitimately a bad name.

Jane: its someone he knows that takes them all the time, I don't feel very good about it all, I feel ashamed but I don't know what else to do

Jane: it's only a one time thing, I would never do it again, I'm just so desperate and I've already borowed off my parents so I cant' do it again

Me: If you get caught, you could go to prison i'm sure.

Jane: yes but I'm not seling them

Me: Doesn't matter who is selling them. You're getting the money and they're your pills. Your doctor could also get in trouble since he's the one who prescribed them.

Jane: don't worry, I wouldn't have done it with the wrong person I trust her boyfriend

Me: And if your doctor gets in trouble then he could lose his liscense and go out of business. Then a lot of people who legitimatlly need the meds won't be able to get them, including you.

Jane: please don't worry, I just ended up with too many a long time ago, I would never do this again or regularly I hope you believe me

Me: Having posession of those pills is a MAJOR responsibility and you can't take it lightly.

Thanks for any help. I am very saddened by this conversation. I believe I have lost all respect for this person.

Kissa · 08-13-2004, 01:16 PM

This is an all to frequent problem as well as the problem with friends begging for your medication because they are miserable either it be free or to by. This is a dilema of chronic pain patients.

As far as the given situation, what to do? Well if you don't know the address of this individual or their doctor's name then there is nothing you can do. If you do know it you can advise someone (authorities) about the situation. You could also advise their doctor anonomously, which honest, is something I would do.

I do not buy the "it's a one time thing" statement because if they are desperate now whats to stop them next month, or the month after that, nothing that's what. It's a sad situation indeed. I know what it is like to be poor as I was for a brief period in my life, but it doesn't excuse selling narcotics or any other medication this person has. It is lucrative to them and to many other people sadly and it does frustrate me that those who really need the meds struggle to get them. You are right, if something happens to that person she/he sells to and they find out they were obtained from her then that person could be in for some serious trouble.

Furthermore, if that person's doctor found out about this they would immediately terminate them and then how would they cope if they actually needed the medications? They would have to find a new doctor and a new doctor will call an old doctor and learn from them the story as well.

Your advice and conversation was proper and mostly the same things I'd say myself, I'm proud of you. It is a difficult dilema I agree and I am sure this person is in a difficult situation as well but it isn't right to do what she is planning. She thinks she won't get caught, the reality is she can get caught even if she didn't out right sell them to this person. If that person gets caught with them then they tell who they got them from does she honestly believe that the person she gave them to to sell wouldn't turn her in? Trust me they won't be doing her any favors, they will save their own behinds before her, that's how it is you know?

I think I too would loose respect for such a person. Not sure exactly what to tell you to do, only you can decide that for yourself.

Good luck to you!

dckatz2001 · 08-13-2004, 01:25 PM

Thanks for answering my post. I have come to find out that the deal has already been made and the pills were sold.

I don't know this woman's street address or the doctor's name so there's really nothing I can do I suppose. I am just sick and angry about this. Later in the conversation, she told me that I was making her feel bad. I didn't have the heart to tell her that she should feel bad and I didn't really care if she did. However, now I wish I had told her that.

msrsd · 08-13-2004, 05:07 PM

just a little note RUN don't walk just stop messaging with this person if she or he was caught maybe the police would look in their computer and your name might come up, i tend to stay away from people like that, i am sure you are not like that and you would not want to be caught in the middle, so slowly and tactfully stop messaging that person. sorry for being nosey but i would hate a innocent cp patient getting in the middle of this. and by the way your answers were very good to him or her.

Stumpy · 08-15-2004, 01:46 PM

I would not want to have anything to do with that person. My father's current wife tried to get me to give her some of my meds that I was no longer using. Not only did I say no, but then I flushed. These meds can be dangerous in the wrong hands. The last thing that I would want or need is to see the cops knocking down my door because someone said they got a hold of a medication that without a doctor's prescription, is illegal to be in possession of.