Being Judged
Wed, September 15, 2010 2:49 PM
Hey everyone. Well i have had CD for about a year now and thankfully no pain for the past 3 weeks. 
But i had gone to the er about 4 weeks ago and was treated so badly. I have already left one hospital for being treated as a "drug addict" because i have been on vicodin for pain management ever since i was diagnosed last year. But now i got my medical records from the hospital i go to now and they are saying the exact same things. And the Drs have also included in my records that since i have several tattoos (only 4) that i might be drug dependent. Now i am basically looking for any advice on how to deal with such judgemental Drs. I should also add that i haven't been on pain medication for a month now. No problems. I am just afraid that when i do have another flare up that if i go to this hospital they will think the exact same thing. I don't know whether i should complain to the hospital manager or just switch hospitals again. I don't know, please help. I don't know what to do. Thanks everyone.
Joined Feb 18, 2010
Tue, September 21, 2010 6:14 PM
Reply posted for Joe.
That is not right!
Make an appeal. If what your medical records say about you, that is false (about being an addict) can have an effect on future care and insurance, you have to. Find out who to talk to at the hospital and d what's necessary to protect your a$$. Sorry that you have to do this. It's very sad that even doctors are disrespectful!
Joined May 30, 2009
Sat, September 18, 2010 12:00 AM
Reply posted for Jfisher.
Oh, and you might want to call the medical records office & appeal those things written in your records. You can appeal anything that is false & they HAVE to remove it. I would strongly recommend doing so, as it could prevent insurance companies from covering you in the future, if you had to apply for private insurance.
laraizantJoined Mar 24, 2010
Sat, September 18, 2010 12:00 AM
Reply posted for Jfisher.
So, my advice is to call & complain to the OR manager. Tell them
that you don't appreciate being labeled an addict when you have no signs
of it. Tell them it is extremely discriminatory for the doctor to think
you could be because of a few tattoos. Hopefully, the OR manager will
remedy the situation. I would also suggest being a little aggressive the
next time you do need to be seen in an OR. Tell the doctor that you had
a terrible experience before & that you have CD and really need to
have a kind, supportive doctor treat you and if they aren't willing to
do it, then you'd like another doctor. You have every right to demand
proper treatment & you deserve it.
I hope you stay pain free for a long, long time. :)
laraizantJoined Mar 24, 2010
Sat, September 18, 2010 12:00 AM
Reply posted for Jfisher.
I had almost the exact same thing happen to me. I was just diagnosed with CD in March & I was sick for a year and a half prior and no doctor could figure out what was wrong. I was on Lortab mainly but my pain would become so extreme, I'd end up in the ER. (I probably had around 7 ER visits in a year.) On one particular visit, I had an amazing doctor who was exceptionally caring. He ordered a battery of tests & advised me to come back the next day. He would not be there, but he said he would put thorough notes in my chart for the doctor who was on staff to review. So, I went back the next day as advised & the doctor was the most disrespectful, rude doctor ever. He flat out told me I was a drug addict, when I wasn't at all. Very, very difficult.
Fast forward about a month later. I was again in extreme pain & knew I needed to go back to the ER. I didn't want to go because of my previous experience, but my husband insisted on taking me. So, when I got there, I asked what doctor was working, and lo & behold, it was the same rude doctor. So, I told the receptionist to tell him that I did not appreciate his behavior the last time he treated me & that I expected to be treated with kindness & without judgment. I saw the receptionist tell what appeared to be the OR manager about my complaint & then saw the manager speak directly to the doctor. Needless to say, he apologized & actually admitted to me that my urinalysis he had tested at my last visit showed no signs of dependency. From that point on, he treated me well & was a lot more caring.
(I can't post everything in this, so look for my next post!)
laraizantJoined Mar 24, 2010
Wed, September 15, 2010 10:01 PM
Reply posted for Jfisher.
Look in your phone book for a state agency, "(your) State - Board of Medical Practice". File a complaint. Rudeness, disrepect, unprofessionalism and incompetency seem to be the norm in the medical establishment today. You have to take a stand for the good of all patients.
Joe
Joined Oct 24, 2019