Physician Abandonment Issues

What is the name of your state? Georgia.
First, let me say, I also made a post on the Worker's Comp board, with reference to this problem, but need assistance specific to the problems we are having with our physician as well.
My fiance was electrocuted at work two years ago, with severe burns to both feet, requiring multiple skin grafts, and is on Worker's Comp now. The only physician currently approved to treat him is a "Pain Management" specialist. This physician has shown, time and time again, that my fiance's best interest is not a priority for him. He has released my fiance to return to light duty, in spite of the fact that my fiance still suffers from severe pain in both feet and ankles, requiring constant narcotic pain relief via fentanyl patches. We have tried to reason with this physician, to no avail. He obviously is not concerned about any liability that might arise from prescribing strong narcotics and releasing a patient to return to a job that requires routinely working around thousands of volts of electricity, so perhaps we might just be incorrect is assuming he would have any liability in this, should another accident occur. Also, there have been several occasions that my fiance has depleted his supply of pain medication, and although his usage did not exceed the orders of the physician, the doctor has ignored my fiance's request for refills. While this may not seem such a terrible thing, this has caused my fiance to experience severe pain and withdrawal symptoms to the extent that I have been terrified, and have tried to convince him to go to the Emergency Room. The withdrawals have been so severe that I was afraid he might actually have convulsions. Well, this situation has happened again, and we don't know what to do. My fiance was late for his doctor's appointment simply from human error - he thought it was an hour later than the actual time. The doctor refused to see him, although it is very common for us to have to routinely wait 2+ hours after our appointed time. The staff would not give him another appointment any sooner than two weeks from now, and the physician flatly refused to refill his prescriptions, in spite of us telling the staff that there is no way he can suffer for two weeks due to this. This doctor is a complete jerk! And, there seems to be little hope of the W/C carrier approving a change of physician since he seems to be in their back pocket. Our attorney has said there is nothing he can do. Isn't this alot like abandonment? Don't standards of medical practice dictate treating patients in a humane, dignified way? Do we have any recourse? Any advice sincerely appreciated!

[djohnson]

Does he have medical insurance other than the WC. I know WC dorctors are out for the best interests of the company but if my fiance was in the much pain I would rather him be taken care of and get the bill. What does you WC suppose to cover and up to what? Was he at fault or the company?

[ellencee]

kbmeador

First, I'd remind the attorney that he or she is employed or contracted with by your fiance and not vice versa and if the attorney refused to represent your fiance's best interest, I suggest you do two things--report the attorney to the Worker's Compensation Board on the State level and get another attorney after firing the first one.

Secondly, I'd report the physical complaints to the same state level Worker's Compensation Board and demand, not ask, for another physician or pain clinic.

Thirdly, I'd get my fiance into rehab for safe withdrawal from this medication and proper evaluation of his physical needs.

This pain in his feet may last for 7 years from the time of injury or for the rest of his life. The nerve endings were damaged by the burns and are sending 'pain' messages to the brain whether or not actual pain exists, and I'm sure part of his pain is real. This situation is like the phantom pain from an amputated limb--the nerves are still there from a certain point on his legs and continue on their normal pathway to the receptors and interpreters in the brain. These receptors and interpreters don't rationalize and reason is the pain real or is the pain not real; they get the impulse from the nerve and they elicit a sensation of pain.

Rather than needing so much narcotic pain relief medication, your fiance may need something that stops the brain from interpreting each received nerve impulse for pain as pain.

Some patients get relief of peripheral neuropathy from Elavil and others get relief from Nurotin; usually if one doesn't work, the other will.

Don't worry about a power or utility company hiring and placing a work restricted individual up on poles working with electricity--the risk of liability to them is too great. There is no obvious reason that your fiance could not drive and read meters or deliver appliances, etc.--other than his addiction to the pain medication and your enabling of his addiction.

You are going to have to look beyond his current state and focus on returning him to the highest level of independent functioning that he can obtain. If you get him into rehab, there will be help for you, too. Rehab provides specialist and others in like situations to help you differentiate between helping and thinking you are helping. Helping an addict is often worse than living with an addict, but it is always more beneficial for everyone involved.

Lastly, and I am not criticizing, just trying to help you present this situation more clearly next time--electrocuted means killed by electricity. Your fiance received severe electrical burns to his feet.

He is lucky to be alive; take care of him and of yourself; obviously, you've been given a second chance.

Best wishes,
EC