Why no recourse? Warning: This is a LONG post

[tat_nurse]

Okay, so I'm not so good at making long stories short, so sue me (probably should'nt say that to a room full of lawyers, lol). 2 years ago I was being treated by my PCP for chronic pain. I had been through a pain clinic and the plan was for him to monitor my condition and prescribe the meds that the pain clinic had started me on. I trusted this doctor and thought the world of him. He seemed so caring, so genuine. I am an RN (who couldn't work at that time), and have seen my share of doctors who are cold and clinical. I was really in agony and was taking an extended release morphine as well as oxycodone. Each time I would complain about the pain he would increase the dosage, until I was taking 800 mg of morphine and 12 oxycodone tablets a day. I was also taking Ambien, which caused me to have an incident of sleepwalking that led to me hitting my head so hard I killed a nerve in my forehead, and to have seizure activity that led to an injury that ended with necrotic tissue damage. This combination of meds, at these doses would kill someone without a tolerance.

As a nurse I knew that this was a lot of medicine, but as a person suffering from constant pain all I could think of was trying to find relief. I had already had two back surgeries and the last one had gone horribly wrong. I knew I probably needed another surgery but I had so many complications after the first fusion I was afraid to have another one.

During the time he was my PCP: He pressured me to purchase a dietary supplement that he and his wife were selling, using most of my appt. time to do this (said it was a secret and that the hospital couldn't know). I was hospitalized several times for stomach problems and various other medical problems while he was treating me, and he misdiagnosed me with a rare disease, resulting in a 2 week hosp. stay, and 8 doses of medicine at $2,000 each, all because he didn't order all of the necessary labs and wait for the results before starting treatment. Shortly after that he told me that he was no longer able to prescribe narcotics or sleeping pills to any of his patients and gave me 60 days to find another doc. By this time I was on so much pain medicine no doctor in their right mind would touch me because I was at high risk for an overdose, not to mention the fact that doctors know that writing scripts like that draws scrutiny from the DEA, and could result in charges being filed. I spoke to a few people who were patients of his, months later and I found out that he was still prescribing pain medicine to them, so he lied to my face.

I contacted the hospital and after reviewing my chart and speaking to the doctor they determined that he had done nothing wrong. All I wanted was an explanation, an admission that he lied, and an apology. I received none of the above, so I contacted an attorney about negligence charges. I was told that since there is no permanent injury I don't have a case. I don't see why a doctor has to kill, or maim someone for life before they are held responsible for their actions. Since he clearly did not do what any other reasonable doctor would have done in the same situtation, I don't understand how this could not be considered negligence on his part.
Legally, is there any way to make him take responsibility for his actions?

T.J.

[During the time he was my PCP: He pressured me to purchase a dietary supplement that he and his wife were selling, using most of my appt. time to do this (said it was a secret and that the hospital couldn't know).]



As to that point above the medical licensing board will take action if you report that. Call the Board.

[TENN]

The medical licensing board will investigate all of your complaints, I hope you turned it in (before he kills someone)