Military and Drug Mixing?

What happened to you could and has happened in the civilian sector as well. Just like in the civilian world, there are good doctors and bad. It is unfortunate you had a bad doctor. He should have been far more careful and it is unfortunate you had such a severe reaction because of his mistake and carelessness. If you have not done so already, immediately call both the patient advocate's office for the military facility he is working from and the hospital commander and file formal complaints.

Now I will play devil's advoacte for a moment..and only because you may hear this when you speak to someone...all medications from military pharmacies come with indepth handouts on the possible side effects of the medications. This ususally includes a list of drugs that can cause side effects if mixed with the prescribed drug. I know must of us ignore the papers and just toss it out, but this is exactly why they are there. If you got the information and didn't read it, you may find yourself being told you need to be more proactive in your own care. Also, check the label on the bottles to be sure they didn't put warning stickers on there as well.

As for suing for malpractice...dependents can try to sue, but it is next to impossible, extremely exspensive and will probably take longer than you may have left in the service. Since this incident did not leave you with long term health issues, affect the development or health of a new born child and/or did not result in a death, you would have very little luck in finding an attorney willing to take the military on in court for this situation. I am not minimizing the stress and emotional pain this caused, but do know from personal experience that suing often causes more emotional stress than it may be worth. File the complaints..refuse to work with that doc anymore...anytime meds are prescribed, be sure to ask specific questions from now on (you should have to check the list of meds you are on at every appointment to update it..be sure to do so and include all over the counter and herbal medications as well). Many incidents occur because we have been taught to simply accept what we are told by doctors or feel pressured to get in and out, so we skip questions. Especially in military health, where we often seen someone other than our PCM, it is imperitive to ask. Finally, it sounds as if some of the meds you were on were for depression or mental health issues. Other than simple depression, psychiatric meds should be coming from a psychiatrist, not a general practitioner. Psychiatrists are trained in these medications, know what should never be mixed and will keep close tabs and require frequent followups when new meds have been prescribed. This is especially true in the military when many docs have limited experience with psychiatric meds and tend to over prescribe or incorrectly prescribe.

A physician is a medical doctor but if he was not a psychiatrist you can make the case you were misdiagnosed. A diagnosis of depression needs to come from a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Also you are off drugs and meds now. Frankly the suicidal thoughts is a bigger problem. No matter what do not lie the military will find your medical records. Apply for a waiver. Best of luck. Don't give up.go through with the waiver.

When I was stationed at HAAF in savannh I had a severe knee issue when I tore my LCL and the first doctor I went to told me to look on the internet to find out what was wrong with my knee! He did no examination asked one question, "where does it hurt?" Then he left the room and never came back. When I requested to see another doctor and told him what had happened he told me the problem he has seen with doctors in the military (this was his opinion from what he had seen from his side) is that the majority of them had large malpractice lawsuits against them and were unable to cover there insurance premiums outside of the military. Henceforth, they joined the military to avoid paying for malpractice insurance. He also gave me a referral, possibly the only sound medical advice I have received since joining the military.

Nothing you can do, because it is military health care and the Doctors are covered all the way until China with against military members or family of military members. Plus any their has very rarely been a case where somebody actually won a lawsuit against a doctor for taking pills, because you take them on your own accord. Most doctors aren't even in the armed forces either.

Ex. of Nationalized Heath Care(who the hell wants that) i was in Med Hold(for 3 months) and even visited some VA hospitals as a battle buddy for a surgery

The system is overcrowded with long lines and doctors that do not care

some of the medical care is good so i am not downgrading everything

but i would not want to have any major medical issues with this people

Rene S You should have a talk with your commanding officer! Tell him what you have ask in your question about the mixing of the drugs. By the way did your Dr. ask you for a list of medications you were already on? If he knew that you were on medications that should not have been mixed then he definitely was wrong in having you take them! Good Luck!