Is it legal, ethical or moral?

Question

For a Surgeon who performed a five level Spinal Fusion surgery 6 months ago to drop a patient like a hot potato? I have been having some major complications post surgically. I have been going for Epidural Steroid injections, Physical Therapy etc... He has been treating my pain with Lyrica as well as a low dose narcotic pain medication. Every 10 days I have to call for a refill on my meds due to the fact that I was well monitored. Office policy, which I thought was a good thing. I was seen on Monday to be fitted for a Bone Stimulator and was told to return for new x-rays in 2 months. Wednesday, I call for a refill on my meds and was told the PA said this was my last refill and I had to find Pain Management Doctor. Now during this six month period, there were never any problems, I was compliant and the Doctor himself said he was not giving up yet and that he had a few tricks left up his sleeves. Now I have a week and a half to find a Pain Management Doctor, actually be seen, all before running out of my medications. I have no problem with not taking medication anymore, but I need to be weened off of these meds or I am going to suffer from some major withdrawal unnecessarily. Am I wrong to think that it is the responsibility of my doctor who has been prescribing these medications to ween me off? I had absolutely no warning of any kind. Everything was fine until Wednesday. I am curious to hear opinions as I believe this is actually malpractice. Thank you in advance for your time.

Update:

Hi Cowboy! No, unfortunatley nothing was said or done by myself. I wish it were that easy to explain. I could apologize for or at least recognize any action on my part for this to happen. Thank you for taking the time to answer. I hope all goes well with you.

mistify · Accepted Answer

It's unfortunately somewhat common with orthopedic surgeons.  However, when you consider their specialty...surgery, their job really shouldn't be to continue to dispense pain medications on a long term basis.  The psychosocial impact that using narcotic medication has comes with a lot of responsibility that is really beyond the scope of a surgeon...whose job really is to do surgery. If you continue to have pain despite this procedure and there is nothing surgically wrong with the procedure, you really are best served by a pain management specialist.  The chances are, your pain is no longer stemming from the mechanical influences for which you saw the surgeon, but rather, has become a central nervous system problem.  Pain management specialists understand this much more.  Unless your surgeon was planning further surgical procedures, it certainly is appropriate for them to refer you elsewhere. 

However, it is pretty crappy that they didn't give much notice.  Getting into a pain management specialist can often take several weeks.  Certainly, I would keep in touch with the surgeon and let them know when you have a scheduled appointment, and most likely, they will keep up with your refills until then.  I think if you show the initiative to see the specialist, they should be accommodating.   Is this malpractice though?  No...just really uncoordinated care...

Anonymous · Answer

They did not choose to become adrift, and to be honest this is a no win situation. If there is nothing aboard the lifeboat, there is nothing anybody can do(im sorry if ive completely missed the point here!!) Like it's a near on impossiblilty to put something there thats not.. Ok so If the boy dies so be it because there is nothing the others can physically do to prevent this, so in my view it is not 'Murder' its inevitable. Its all about survival and how can the human body survive without water at least? I would rather die knowing that I didn't eat the boy, than to live and have to go on with the guilt over what i did to survive. (that is a question of morals) If I were to carry on with this I would be here all night.. hope this gives u an insight into my mind

cowboydoc · Answer

There has to be a reason for him to drop you, you said something, something happen. Have a talk with him and find out. Most doctors don't want to mess around with a long term standing patient that has no future for curing. They will put you on a pain clinic doctor that is usually and anesthesiologist. They are good if you find a good one, there are as many bad ones also. I have a stimulator in me for my spine, I have tried to recall the doctor to no avail. Another pain clinic I was going to is much better and they were going to remove the stimulator (it's not in the right place and does not cover the complete pain area) and put in a pain pump.
          Talk to the doctor and see what your options are. The doctor, however ethical it seems or unethical, morally they can and will drop you. They're selling a product (medication and cure) and can withdraw it.

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Is it legal, ethical or moral?

3 Answers