Communication Between Doctors

[Mustelid]

Hypothetical question here:

Say an individual was prescribed good opioids for chronic pain, and things went fairly well, then said individual goes to a specialist on their own accord, and finds a miraculous non-opioid treatment, that does a terrific job controlling pain with almost no negative side effects.

Ok, now this individual still has the ability to go to the original doctor, who doesn't know yet about the specialist. This doctor is in the habit of simply refilling prescriptions for the opioid painkillers at regular intervals.

The individual is not too keen on telling the doctor about the clinic and losing the prescription for several possible reasons, or combinations of reasons.

1. They don't want to deal with the withdrawals of being cut off.
2. They like the opioids and want to continue them, only recreationally, for a while at least (yeah sure)
3. They want to deal with withdrawal at their own pace, on their own terms.
4. They'd feel somehow guilty of letting such beautiful prescription fade to oblivion.
5. They want to keep opiods around as a backup, in case the newly discovered treatment stops working.

The question is this. Is their any legal reason compelling this individual to notify the original general practitioner about the new clinic and the treatment?

[irish]

Where I am in Canada, you have to give permission for doc's to release your info.

[DownByLaw]

Nope. Don't let the cat out of the bag. Unlikely they will talk talk to one another unless 2 docs were scripting seprate opiates.

[EleusisII]

There are rules against doctors releasing information on you.
Besides, nobody knows how well this works except for you, right? If push comes to shove, you just didn't tell him because you know how some doctors look down on alternative therapies, and was kind of emberassed that you were seeking help that way. Even though it didn't work. :)

[mark_renton]

I know several people who go to multiple doc's, unless they are stupid enough to go to the same pharmacy, or turn both scripts into medicade then they get away with it no problem. I don't think it's just my state thats lax like that becuase when I was doing a job in Iowa I ran out of my script of patches early, I just went to the e.r. and said my perscription had run out, and I bull shited my way into an extra 5 patches and a couple hydros:D.

[Levity]

HIPPA is your friend.

In America, unless you sign a release, the MD/hospital/shrink/whatever, can't even tell a judge while UNDER SUPENDA if you're even a patient.

Right to medical privacy my friend... Which is why some people can have two PM Docs in two states and four different pharmacies filling scripts for Kpins, Xanax, Oxy, OxyIR, and MorphIR. Just a story I heard once...

[youwonhundred]

HIPPA is your friend.

In America, unless you sign a release, the MD/hospital/shrink/whatever, can't even tell a judge while UNDER SUPENDA if you're even a patient.

While that may be true, the downside is, in order to even receive treatment, you have to sign a release form, which pretty much wipes out your "rights". Once you sign the release, you're done. If you've actually read the fine print of one of the forms, the hospital/doc/whomever is allowed to release your information to damn near anyone, from insurance companies (obvious) to law enforcement (for example, if you are teh victim of a shooting, the cops get access to your records). Sure, you don't HAVE to sign the form, but in most cases, you will not get treated if you refuse. Also, iirc, in newer versions of the medical release form, there's even a "National Security" clause listed.

Privacy? Yeah riiiiight!

[(inaudible screams)]

If you receive schedule drugs your name is in a database. As far as the original post is concerned...I don't think Doc B would look for that since you are getting a non narcotic treatment.

[mikells43]

hippa laws are in ur favor. also a cp paitent in the views of a doctor, this is in the views of a doctor only. ok the doc usually goes by the info that is out there, and what the info says out there right now is that if there is a non-opiate therepy out there and ava that works and controls the pain, then the normal cp paitent will be totally up for it, plus who wants to take pills and be doped out all the time thats how they see normal people. now they will label u as an addict if u do not want to switch to the non-opiate therepy and want to continue to take the opates. so i would stick to what u are doing now if u want to keep getting ur drugs, cause if u open ur mouth and let that info out that what u are doing works better than the pills but u still want the pills u are going to set urself for a big fat addict label on ur charts trust me its true.

[Indy]

I wouldn't even worry about if he DOES find out. Just say "yeah it helps a little but it doesnt really work so i just keep taking the opies".

Oh, and obviously don't call them "opies" to your doctor.....or hold them like a teddy bear. Don't ask how i know not to do that.

[mollywopped]

As long as you, errr, said individual isn't getting the same meds from 2 different docs, they are fine. Since it is 2 seperate meds, there is no problem. The probelms come in when you are getting OC's for your back from Dr. Smith and also getting OC's for your back from Dr. Jones.

[BettyBeautiful]

The question is this. Is their any legal reason compelling this individual to notify the original general practitioner about the new clinic and the treatment?

Hello - I am currently a Suboxone patient who has a PCP that, like yours, is in the habit of "Hello, how are ya? Here are your scripts, see you next month."

In my Sub paperwork, there was a HIPPA form with 3 areas to for the sub dr.'s offie to obtain charts, labs, and Rx info from any health provider they wished to obtain from for their records. Since I want to keep my scripts and don't want my PCP to chart "opiate dependence/ drug seeker" diagnosis/ memo to my insurance company - I added another choice to the form. I wrote that I DO NOT authorize the sub office to obtain ANY medical records, labs, images, or charts from my PCP, lab, or elsewhere.

My sub doctor did ask me in my last visit if I have told my PCP I am in treatment, I replied no. She said to me, "well you must know that I cannot contact your doctor's office for any reason related to your prior health history as directed in your contract, but I would strongly recommend he be informed upon your next visit".

I told her I'd take care of it, but because of HIPPA and cash payments the only history they can obtain on me is what I provide to them. Maybe that is why she was in such a foul mood on the first visit...anywhoo...to answer your question, no, but you must make sure you read the forms carefully before signing all the releases.

HIPPA is there to protect your privacy, use to your advantage. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions. :)