Can a doctor withhold pain medicine if you owe money to him?!


Question: Can a doctor withhold pain medicine if you owe money to him!?
i recently went to see an orthopedic spine doctor!. they x-rayed me and found the i had fractured L5 vertebra and ruputured disc below it, and the vertebra had slipped forward at least 50%/ !. they immediately recommened surgery to fuse my unstable spine!. the surgery was scheduled for december 16, and i will be fitted for a brace as soon as my insurance ok's!. In the meantime, i had been taking robaxin muscle relaxer for about a month, prescribed by my referring family dr!. I had been in pain for quite awhile before i saw the spine doc!. i called and asked for some stronger pain med!. and they called me back and told me dr!. ------ can't call in a scrip for your pain med until you pay this bill from 2005 with another dr!. in the same medical complex!. is this right!?!? btw, i paid the bill!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com


Answers:
Unfortunately, they can do this!. And since the doctors are in the same practice, that is why the prescription is not being written!. I would guess there is a central billing office that was able to pull this up and flag your chart!. I doubt the doctor himself actually even knows of the issue!. If you have evidence you paid, take it down there, get the account cleared, and pick up a prescription for your meds!. It seems like the easiest route in light of the other options, which is to be in pain, or suicide, as you stated!. Just because the doctor agreed to see you once does not mean that he is responsible or obligated to see you again, as another posted mentioned!. Again, the doctor himself more than likely does not know what the situation is, so holding a grudge against him will get you nowhere!. Just go show proof of the payment, or if you don't have it, pay the bill!. This will allow you to get the medical treatment and pain medication that you want and need!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Of course they can do that!.!.!. they have a right to payment for services rendered, and if you don't pay, they don't have to serve!. The only caveate in that statement is if there is a life threatening situation, a doctor is obligated by law to treat a life threatening situation regardless of the patient's ability to pay!.!. but pain control is not life threatening!. Would you continue to work for your employer if he did not pay you your wages!? I rather doubt it!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

Why would one doctor be worried about another doctor's finances!? Sounds a little odd to me!. You need to call back and talk to the office manager!.
If that's really what they are doing, thats very unethical!.
Besides, if you paid it, prove it to them and problem over!.Www@Answer-Health@Com

If you paid the bill you need to get proof of that and contest it!. I'm unsure if they can withhold pain killers so the sooner you get it sorted, the better!.!.

Edit: "I suppose that no one can understand constant pain unless they have it!." I completely understand because for the last 5 years that's all I've had!. I can't remember what it's like not to be in pain!. It affects EVERYTHING!. Like you, my quality of life is miserable!.!. I'm 16 years old my mum undresses/dresses me, has to carry me tot he bathroom, has to carry me to bed and out of bed,occasionally has to get me out the bath, has to put my shoes and socks on!. It's an endless list!. I have 3 fused vertebrae in my neck and scoliosis which cause a lot of pain aswell as hip problems and ligament/tendon/muscle problems!. I've been using crutches to walk for over 4 years and when my hip locks (leaving me unable to move my legs) i have to use a wheelchair, so i've been in that for about 4 years!. That's all we know!. They don't know what is wrong with me, they don't know how to make it all stop and they can't seem to find any pain killers which work!.
I know its disheartening thinking "what if this doesn't work" then you think of all the stuff you'lll have to continue with and it puts you off!. What are you losing by having the surgery!? You already have pain, you have nothing to lose!.

I know it's hard, but stay positive!. Things will get better!. First thing tomorrow, call up your doctor and tell him what you told us, tell them you paid the bill (if you have proof take it) if not, i know you shouldn't have to but pay it again!. It's worth it if you get the pain relief, right!? Things will get better, just stay positive!.!. Always remember there is somebody worse off then yourself!. I find that helps :)Www@Answer-Health@Com

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I guess they can do what they want!. But most doctors are kind compassionate people and they take an oath!. If the doctor is any kind of humanitarian, he would not make one suffer because of an inability to pay!. Are you sure he is not withholding the pain meds because he thinks you no longer need them!. With pain meds, it usually because the person is angry that they being taken off them that they make accusations like this against a doctor!. I have a ton of unpaid bills and still get treated with compassion!. I have been told that a doctor can't see me again til I pay my bill!. But once the doctor agrees too treat you they are responsible for you health, including pain management!.Www@Answer-Health@Com





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