Need advice on patient dismissal

[Nellie Bradford]

I live in Tennessee. I have been seeing my doctor for about 3 years. I have a prescription for pain that states to take "as needed". I take it on occasion when other medications won't work. I see my doc every 4 months. On my last visit, I was asked to provide a urine sample. They randomly do so in their office and there has never been a problem with this. I received a letter from them stating that they will no longer see me because I tested negative on my urine screen. I then wrote a letter and explained that I do not always take that medication because I do not always need it and that my prescription states that I should take it "as needed". They will not allow me to return.

My ex-husband is also a patient there. About a year ago, he was asked to give a urine sample and the sample came back positive for marijuana. He also received a letter stating that he could not return as a patient because of this. He wrote a letter and stated that he had made a mistake and that it would never happen again. They accepted him back as a patient.

My question is... Can the doctors office legally and/or ethically accept him back as a patient but not me, when I was never out of compliance but he was. I have never encountered any problems with this doctors office so I am really having a tough time understanding where they are coming from with all of this. Can someone please advise me on the ethics and legality of this situation. Thanks. Nellie

 

[Zigner]

I live in Tennessee. I have been seeing my doctor for about 3 years. I have a prescription for pain that states to take "as needed". I take it on occasion when other medications won't work. I see my doc every 4 months. On my last visit, I was asked to provide a urine sample. They randomly do so in their office and there has never been a problem with this. I received a letter from them stating that they will no longer see me because I tested negative on my urine screen. I then wrote a letter and explained that I do not always take that medication because I do not always need it and that my prescription states that I should take it "as needed". They will not allow me to return.

My ex-husband is also a patient there. About a year ago, he was asked to give a urine sample and the sample came back positive for marijuana. He also received a letter stating that he could not return as a patient because of this. He wrote a letter and stated that he had made a mistake and that it would never happen again. They accepted him back as a patient.

My question is... Can the doctors office legally and/or ethically accept him back as a patient but not me, when I was never out of compliance but he was. I have never encountered any problems with this doctors office so I am really having a tough time understanding where they are coming from with all of this. Can someone please advise me on the ethics and legality of this situation. Thanks. Nellie

Yes, they can choose to sever their relationship with you.

 

[Nellie Bradford]

Yes, they can choose to sever their relationship with you.

Thanks for your help.