Does anyone have any experience with a non-maleficence case against a doctor?

[said99]

I was with my Rheumatoid Arthritis doctor for over a decade, until he went into bizarro world on me out of the clear blue. The issue is that for the last 4 yrs. I have been taking Dilaudid (up to 8/day) & I also get Actemra by infusion monthly. He pretty much kicked me to the curb w/no warning whatsoever. Then to add insult to injury, he dragged this out for a week & 1/2, gave me no time to prepare or to find other resources. The amount of lies/stories/BS would make anyone hearing this story think I was on some serious hallucinogenics. Here's an example of incompetence: for the 1st time in over 11 yrs., I was asked to drop a UA. No problem. To my shock, I was told that I was neg for opiates, which was virtually impossible. While I'm trying to figure out wtf is going on, I got told: (& I quote) "Your UA came back negative, but then we got an 'amended' report a couple of days later saying positive".(BTW: no one bothered to let me know about this "amended report"). I had imaging done last Fri. due to a fall & though the results have been done since last Mon. not 1 single person has called me to let me know the results. I even called, but nobody called me back. That was yesterday. Fortunately, I had 2 pharmacists backing & when I went to my primary care dr (I've been w/him even longer-14 yrs.) & told him everything, he believed me. Normally he wouldn't write for pain meds of this caliber, but considering the circumstances, he did. What my former doctor did is not only unethical, but dangerous. Stopping Dilaudid out of nowhere can cause severe adrenaline spikes that can stop your heart, as well as blood pressure in stroke range. My RA is the worst it's been in the 20 yrs. I've had it, w/severe, visible damage. The Actemra is controlling about 5% of the RA, but 5% is better than no %. I know that in medical malpractice, you practically have to be dead before anyone will hear/take your case, or at least extremely messed up (preferably for life). The main thing is that this came as a sucker punch & instead of real reasons (which there are none), I got straight out lies, stories, placating me until they could cover their butts etc. What I wanted to know is: has anyone else been in this situation & what did you do about it? I tried to get in w/the only other RA dr in my city, but he's retiring, so that's out. My RA clinic is now the only one. I can't help but wonder if my RA dr did this deliberately. If he'd of said: "You're too much trouble, I don't want you for a patient anymore. Here's a month of your refills, come in for your June inf, but after that, our dr/patient relationship is over." I wouldn't have liked it, but I would have at least respected it. Hell, I'M too much patient for MYSELF sometimes! But I didn't ask for RA, I didn't ask for a transplant (the RA caused it) & I certainly didn't ask to be in grinding pain & swelling every single day. Is there any reason to contact my state medical board? BTW: he also sent a letter to my primary care dr. But I knew that before he even said anything. I'm still in disbelief over what happened, but I'm not going to sit around & worry about it. I'm going to find other drs to take care of me, even though it will be a pain to start all over. If anyone has any suggestions, please send them my way. Thanks!

[dodya]

I know what it's like to deal in those situations if he's not wanting to work and sit down and talk to you to help you stop showing up. You could try finding a primary care doctor that will listen to your concerns and you needs. You could file a complaint against him with the board although you might need a lawyer not quite sure though. In the meantime you can also try natural products that might reduce the inflammation I'm not affiliated with them nor sale their products but you could try Nopalea.