Money Refunded!

[Sarojini]

Hmmm... many of you may remember that when I first moved to North Carolina, I was on a regimen of MS-Contin and Percocet for IC pain, and that I went to see a family practitioner for a UTI. While there that practitioner noted my medications and announced, "I don't care what you have, these medications are too strong for you" and proceeded to take away my pain meds (the meds that gave me my life and my career back). As a result, I went through severe withdrawal, an ER visit that allowed me enough MS-Contin to make it for a month until I saw a new uro a few towns away (who is an IC expert and wonderful) but no breakthrough medication, and several other doctors who refused to care for my IC or refer me to a pain clinic (including one uro here in town).

As a result, I was very upset with that practitioner, because she refused to listen to me -- and because, if she wanted me off the medication, she should have helped me taper off instead of making me go cold turkey (if she had at least proposed a tapering schedule, I would not have been nearly as upset, but I felt that being forced into withdrawal was very cruel). I ended up writing a letter to the NC Medical Board, as well as the head of the Family Medicine practice I went to that explained what happened and that I was upset about it and thought I'd been treated cruelly.

Today, after over a month went by and I thought they'd simply ignored me, I got a letter stating that all charges from the visit with that practitioner were being refunded to me, including charges for labwork she ran on me when I was there. :) Now, frankly, I think she deserves to be fired, but for now, I will be satisfied with a full refund. At least SOMETHING happened to let me know they acknowledged my complaint ... at this point, that is all I can hope for!

Now, everything with my IC care has been straightened out, between a wonderful urologist and a great pain management clinic, and I will never have to see the practitioner again (I have found another family doctor who will not prescribe pain meds, but will respect what the pain clinic and my uro prescribe, who will not judge me based on that, and who at least has a rudimentary idea of what IC is) -- however, I am happy they at least thought enough of my letter to refund the money I paid that day to be thrust into the worst month I'd had health-wise in a loooooonggg time.... :)

[karen10300]

I'm happy for you. Even though it was a rough road for you to travel I'm glad things are going much better for you now. Isn't it nice to know that someone out there at least listened to and responded to what you said and how badly you where treated.

[tbokay]

How awesome for you!

I just wrote a rough draft letter to my stupid uro and will cc the medical director of the clinic. I am also thinking about writing the state of Illinois board of medicine .. or something like that.

Not sure how far I want to take this ... I just want to make sure he knows that he broke his oath of "first do no harm" by ignoring my repeated complaints of pain and for neglecting to investigate the source of my pain. I really despise that man!!!!

[Janie Miranda]

Good Jen. I'm glad that some action was taken against that practioner. You did not deserve such horrible treatment.

[Cheries]

We all need to speak up when we are treated unfairly. With the fact that we have a chronic condition it is important to find help and RESPECT! I can't stand feeling at the doctor's mercy and could tell you many awful stories of what I have been through. I finally took matters into my own hands and said, "I must treat this pain in order to have a life back!" It has been less than perfect (As I have asked for something for breakthrough pain forever and it is never given!) at least day by day I am getting by.

[cass2376]

So glad to hear they at least realized her mistake and compensated you for it!!
I agree, getting rid of her would have been what you most likely wanted to hear, but at least this was a start. Who knows, maybe she got really repramanded, we just don't know it! :) Hope your doing good, sounds like it(or at least what could be expected w/ IC :loco: :) ) I can't wait for my appt. w/ the pain clinic w/ Kaiser. It's on the 17th!! :woohoo: At least my 1st class is then a week later I meet w/ the team, or something like that.
Take care and God Bless, Cassandra :angel:

[traceann]

That is wonderful news! At least it's a victory, and obviously you were agreed with for them to do that. Absolutely terrific!! woo hoo!!!!

Hugs!

[SandyRN]

Oh, I'm SO glad to hear that! I think she deserved to be fired as well, but you never know what they actually did do to reprimand her. They just might have left the disciplinary measures out of the letter and reimbursed you. Who knows, but we can sure hope can't we?

You could always call the office and ask if she is still working there. You don't have to leave your name, or even a message LOL! Just get the information you are curious about.

Whatever came of it in regards to her I'm very happy that you were acknowleged, finally!!! Now use that money you got back and spend it on yourself!!

Hugs!!!!!

[ICLori]

I'm so glad to hear this! I agree with everyone else, I'll bet she did get reprimanded but they just won't admit it to you (because it would mean they'd be at risk if you sued, so they can't admit it to you). But the fact that they refunded your money to you is HUGE!!! That's a very big victory in itself! Good for you! We all have to speak up when we've been mistreated.

Blessings, Lori

[ICNDonna]

Sandy is right. They would never tell you what disciplinary action was taken --- and if none is taken this time, it will certainly be recorded in her file for information in the future. Sometimes it takes two or three complaints before anything concrete is done.

You absolutely did the right thing and I'm glad you are being reimbursed.

Donna

[missychan]

You go girl! If nothing else, hit 'em in the pocket! If enough people do this, eventually someone will have to stand up and take notice. And, in the end, it worked out 100% in your favor.

Missy

[windwalker]

I was very glad to read they realized you were wronged. :) Glad you had the nerve to stand up to this "doc" and tell how you feel! Good job :D

[mela414]

You go girl!!! You deserve to be treated iwth dignity and what they did was dehumanizing!
There's a lot of personal satisfaction just writing the letter..........even more so when you get a response!!!! good for you!

[mayray518]

Good for you for following up on the issue. So many people moan and groan but never even bother to do anything about it. Even if the outcome isnt everything you expect it to be, you were not a doormat, good for you.

[Amyinagony]

I agree, they KNOW she did something WRONG or they would not have refunded you. I think that they are thanking their god that you didn't sue. All the suffering and anguish she put you through, sure sounds like a pending law suit to me.
Good for you!! For doing what you did.
I wish I could have/would have done more to the idiots I came across and all the wrong doing that was done to me during my battle to find help. I even know there was misconduct, but I was too darn sick and in so pain to care at the time. It still fries my butt thinking about how I was treated though.

[Debgail]

Rah Rah Rah Jen!!!!!!!

I love how articulate you always are...most definately you scared the crap out of them!!! My best friend is a doctor and she told me refunds are always/only given on potential litigation patients...they always say we are "practicing medicine" ...its the only profession typically there is no refund for sub par care. Wouln't it be great if we could report our "cruel treatment to our insurance companies and they would in turn refuse to pay them!!!? Ha! it will never happen, but they then might have to think twice about the treatment they give us!
I am just so glad that you took the time to be proactive...who knows maybe you saved someone else from being treated so horribly as you were.
Way to go Jen!
Love, Debbie

[vm]

GOOD for you, Jen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) So happy to hear that and that you took action when you were treated so horribly! :)