Need advice on helping a friend file complaint with medical board
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The doctor is always right is your response? SMH. Even though you know NOTHING about this person or her medical history. How can you make such a statement?
Some people can't write for crap. Seen it firsthand with a person who was a tremendous speaker, great with people. First drafts sounded like they were written by a 12 y old.
But I digress. Medicine is always right, patient is always wrong. Got it.
You know little about what I do for a living. I will tell you this. I am the only poster here who has represented actual victims of medical malpractice and tried those cases to a successful conclusion in court. So, claiming that I think "the doctor is always right" is---let's say--way off.
I am quite selective about cases I take. You're correct, I haven't reviewed the medical records. I doubt I would get that far if this case came to my office. My reaction to the case is simple. The woman has a mental problem like schitzophrenia or manic depression that can't be cured. She probably doesn't understand why she doesn't feel well and is lashing out at others. We also don't even know if she is complying with her physician's directions. It sounds like a difficult case at best. I would suggest she see someone else and not take the case.
She obviously feels upset about what her doctor did. Many do when they have a bad result from treatment. I understand the OP's desire to help this woman. However, the OP only has one side of what happened.
Thanks. I'm not clear on the diagnosis. I have not seen the records.
In addition to her mental issues, which have deteriorated over the years, she believes that it has deeply affected her physically. She complained to her doctor for several years about her symptoms and he kept her on it, not including her litany of complaints in her medical records.
Her complaint includes:
neurological damage, including tardive dyskinesia, dystonia, tics, and esophageal dysphagia
Yes, the drug can cause all of those, though the risk also seems to be lower than with some of the older antipsychotic drugs. However, they are clearly disclosed in the patient information leaflet:
What other drugs has she taken? How functional is she if she is completely unmedicated? DH has a relative with tardive dyskinesia. Off medication he is rambling about the CIA and talking into his wristwatch - which is not a telephone.
The problem is that Zyprexa is used to treat serious mental illnesses, such as paranoid schizophrenia. I suspect, from what little you've described, that your friend has a serious mental illness, and that the potential benefits of Zyprexa outweighed the potential side effects. I would stay out of it.
The problem is that Zyprexa is used to treat serious mental illnesses, such as paranoid schizophrenia. I suspect, from what little you've described, that your friend has a serious mental illness, and that the potential benefits of Zyprexa outweighed the potential side effects. I would stay out of it.
^
This
You only know one side of the "complaint" from a "friend of a friend" who is on a powerful anti psychotic medication who wrote a 50 page "rambling"complaint letter...
What is YOUR endgame here??
How do you think you are helping the situation??
You aren't going to get "paid"...as others have already noted making a complaint to a state medical board isn't going to result in ANY type of settlement...you may be only helping to reinforce this person's delusion
If you want to be a "friend" direct this person to legal aid (if she truly has a complaint) or suggest she get a 2nd medical/psychological opinion on her condition (the more likely scenario of benefit)
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