Is there anything I can do?(problems with my doctor)

imthatguy · 10-10-2003, 12:34 PM

OK, here's the story. Bear with me here.... I have a pretty bad panic disorder and have been on xanax for about 8 months or so. Wednesday I found out that I had to work on thursday. I had an appointment made with my psychologist(or whichever one prescribes the medicine)for thursday. So, on wednesday I called the doctors office as soon as I found out I had to work, so I could reschedule my appointment and get a weeks worth of xanax because i only had enough to make it until thursday. When I call, I talk to a lady at the front desk and she reschedules my appointment, then transfers me to a refill line. Nobody answered on the refill line so I left a message telling them what I needed and to call me back. So, I wait all day wednesday and no call. Then, I wait all day thursday and still no call. I was sick of waiting and out of medicine so I called at 5:15 on thursday. They were closed so I left another message, and decided to page my doctor to tell her. I figured she knew I needed this medicine and would help me out. She calls back about 10 minutes later and I explained everything to her. She says that she cannot call in a prescription to xanax, I will have to wait until tomorrow. She told me to come right down at 9:00am tomorrow and she would have the script for me. I didn't argue or anything, I just said ok, I'll be there. I was supposed to be at school by 9:30 or so, but I figured I could still make it on time. I had my mother drive me there in the morning because I was feeling kind of panicky without the meds. On the way there I figured I'd call just to make sure it would be ready. I called and spoke with a nurse. All I said to her was" I spoke with Dr.( )last night and I just wanted to make sure my prescription was ready" She said
"Dr.( ) said that we were waiting for you to call us this morning. We didn't know if you were coming down or if we were going to phone in an emergency prescription for you." I said " oh, she told me last night that she couldn't phone it in. I'm allready on my way anyways, so I'll pick it up" Then she said "well it wont be ready when you get here, you'll have to wait" and I said "ok" and bye, then I hung up. Now this made no sense to me because the doctor told me yesterday evening that she couldn't phone in the prescription. Anyways, I get in there and I'm waiting. Then the nurse calls me back to see the doctor. The doctor calls me in her office and tells me to sit down in a loud voice. She starts yelling at me saying that I'm goint to be terminated as a patient because I am threatening her employees. I had absoultely no idea what she was talking about so I asked. She said i threatened the lady on the phone when I just called and I said and I quote " when you called, you said YOU BETTER HAVE MY PRESCRIPTION READY OR ELSE!" Then she kept yelling for a minute and said, "get out of my office, I have patients coming in" I said not until I tell you what actually happened. I explained the whole story about how I called on wednesday and left a message, and about what I really said on the phone and asked her why she told me she couldnt call in a prescription yesterday when I really needed it. She said, no you didnt call. and I said, if I didn't, i would have been charged for the appointment i missed yesterday and I wouldnt have a new appointment. She still said that i was lying. She also said the reason that she didnt call in a prescription yesterday is because she needed 5 days notice. So, how come they were gonna do it this morning with less than a day notice?? Anyway, after that I just got up and started to walk out. I couldnt sit there anymore and listen to that childish BS. She said something to me when i was leaving, I dont remember cuase I was so mad. I know that whatever she said, after she said it i said "oh, don't worry, i'm done with this place" She said"good, cancel your next appointment" and I said "don't worry, I will" So then i call the offic on the way home and talk to the manager of the whole building(because there is more than 1 doctor there) Then listen to this, she saiys to me that when I was leaving, MY DOCTOR told her I said, and I quote again "screw you and screw this place" and some other bull. I told her that all I wanted to tell her was that her doctor prescribed me a medicine that she told me was addictive and that I would need to be weaned off, and only gave me enough for 2 weeks, gave me no instructions to wean off, and that it was her responcibility to wean me. Then I said that Im contacting the better business bureau and a lawyer to see what I can do. That scared her and she said, well call if you need more medicine.
What scares me the most is that these are the people that were supposed to be treating a mental disorder I had. This same doctor prescribed me paxil, the strongest SSRI, after talking to me for 10 minutes, and after I explained i wasn't depressed. I trusted her too. The paxil is another issue in itself. I was never depressed before taking that, now I am. anyway, these are the people I trusted??? There making up stories like ***** 3rd graders. I am so mad right now. This is completely rediculous. There supposed to be medical professionals. At least thats what it said on there damn hold message. I had to listen to it like 5 times. It also said that they care about their patients and their needs. Is there anything I can do about this? I can't just let them do this. I was never rude to anyone in that office EVER. It's so wrong. Well, sorry abou the long post here and thanks to anyone that reads it. I needed to vent and I wanted to see if anyone knew of anything I could do. Thanks again

normorcrazy · 10-10-2003, 01:34 PM

These people sound like the same ones I use to work for in a mental health clinic. If you said you were in Houston I would have to say it is the same clinic.

Anyway, first of all the unfortunate part is, we are the crazy ones...who should believe us over hard working staff. I know that's wrong, but I've worked there. I've heard how people talk about patients behind their back. When I was there I was seeking treatment from elsewhere, so they never knew I had a problem myself. As far as the Psychiatrist not filling your meds, she is either too lazy and doesn't know how cause it's not her job it's the Administrative Asst's job or she didn't have your medical record available to assure what's going on with your case. However, this is no excuse as to why it wasn't done the following morning or better yet, why it wasn't done when you called it in the first time. This is a sticky situation and needs to be addressed. If you are able to do so, definitely contact a lawyer. They have a duty to serve once they have already started treatment. They are responsible for you until you receive a termination letter...in writing, verbal is not considered official. So in the mean time I strongly suggest you find another Psychiatrist ASAP to help you deal with your Panic Disorder and get in contact with a lawyer. Even if you did offend someone in the office or the doctor for that matter, they still can't refuse you treatment without that letter. I hope everything goes well and I'm sorry you had to experience something like this. It's really unfair that we are treated as if we don't count cause we have a mental health problem, but it does happen and it happens more often then people know. Good luck and take care! Please keep us posted on what happens next. One more thing before I go, since you threatened them with a lawyer already they may give in to you. In the mean time they will be putting that letter in the mail...it should be certified. Don't accept it. Once you do they have every right to refuse continuing medical care. Take care!

Kimianne · 10-10-2003, 04:56 PM

Hello:

You can a file a complaint with your State Board of Medicine.

They take complaints,investigate and based on thier findings take appropriate discpline measures.

I am sorry that you are going through all of this. Good luck. Take care and keep us posted.

God bless you.

------------------
Kimi
Life is a gift. Your loved ones are the benefits.
Respect them both and you will reap the rewards.

imthatguy · 10-10-2003, 08:07 PM

Thank you both for the suggestions. I think I will call a lawyer and the pther place suggested above. The nice thing is that I have witnesses to all of the phone conversations, including the ones where I supposedly threatened them. The only thing that is my work against theirs, is me supposedly cussing out the doctor when I was leaving. I want to get her on malpractice with the xanax if I can. She only gave me 2 weeks worth with the directions to take 4 a day as usual. She gave me no weaning instructions, and told me to cancel my next appointment. So she knowingly gave me an addictive drug, ar really addictive one at that. Then she just took it away. They can't do that can they? I never abused the drug or had any prior problems with anyone or anything at this office. I was never rude to anyone. But today, I have to deal with all this stress and BS because a nurse and my doctor feel like making up stories. The nurse who said I was threatening her has always been rude to me everytime I've been in this place. She sets my next appointment almost every time I leave there and always acts like I'm inconveniencing(spelling?) her when I schedule appointments. And Ive always been nice to her. Never rude or smug like her. And she was the one who was rude to me on the phone when I supposedly threatened her. I was nice. he was rude, and yet still felt the need to make up some story about me threatening her. They screw up by not having my prescription ready like I was told it would be. They can't just apologize, they have to turn it around, make up a whole bunch of lies, blame it on me and make me feel like the a** for them screwing up. Then to take it a step further, the doctor has to take me into her office, yell and belittle me, then tell me not to come back. Don't I have great MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS?? sorry for another long post but Im still venting.

normorcrazy · 10-10-2003, 10:57 PM

Keep venting...sometimes you will find answers to things you are looking for. I know here they can't just take you off the meds if they are supposed to be weaned off, unless they think you are addicted and even then they have to offer you further treatment, meaning they have to try to have you admitted for the addiction to have you weaned off properly under medical supervision. If you refuse further treatment then they can refuse to give you the meds. If this did not happen and if nothing of this sort is documented in your record then they have no case as far as abuse to the medication goes. I don't understand why they had you taking Xanax 4 times a day anyway. We use to prescribe it as needed. Of course some addiction may occur if you are being instructed to take it so often. Look into that also, cause the doc may have prescribed this incorrectly. I will do a little research and see what I can find as well. Before I do, did she instruct to take 4 a day or up to 4 a day when needed? I just want to make sure we are on the same page. If she said up to 4 a day you may not be able to use that against her, but ordering 4 a day at scheduled times doesn't sound right. Let me know ASAP and if anyone else has been instructed to take this amount please let me know. I don't want to be giving out false info, I just remember we instructed as needed only. I will keep in touch with any information I find.