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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Miguel Ebay on August 9, 2002, at 0:50:14
Hi there, I'm new at these boards and want to thank many people who have posted. It was like reading the NY times (Sorry chicago tribune fans, I'm a Cubs fan so I can't use you as my favorite paper)for someone who didn't think others w/withdrawal problems existed.
I am taking effexor and love it. I have been taking it for anti-anxiety and it is like a new day. Here's my dilema. My doctor is taking me off it after my soon to be ex-wife wrote a letter to her stating the drug was making me bi-polar. Now to be clear my brother is bi-polar so she has some ammunition, but I do not suffer the same symptoms (manic, depression, etc.) as my brother. I do suffer though from generalized anxiety. I feel my ex-wife is doing this for vengeance since I'm the one that filed. The doctor has decided to take me off it on her word alone. Effexor has not made me violent, manic, etc., it has done exactly what it is supposed to do - decrease my anxiety!
I have pleaded w/my doc not to take me off it because the side-effects have been mucho bad when I went off it before, however, she will not listen to me.
My question is do I have any legal recourse? Has anyone done this before for any uninformed docs not aware of the side-effects? How can someone write a letter to a doctor and the doctor base their decision on a non-professional opinion, especially if that person happens to be a spouse going through a divorce? If that's all it takes anyone could write a letter to someone's doctor and ask them to take them off the medicine they're on.
Thanks for reading this loooong email. Any advice would be appreciated. Take care!
Posted by Medusa on August 9, 2002, at 2:29:57
In reply to Legal Assistance w/Uninformed Docs?, posted by Miguel Ebay on August 9, 2002, at 0:50:14
sorry, I can't help you with the legal stuff.
Just find a new doctor and stay on Effexor if it's working for you.
Posted by colin wallace on August 9, 2002, at 4:34:24
In reply to Legal Assistance w/Uninformed Docs?, posted by Miguel Ebay on August 9, 2002, at 0:50:14
Interesting point.I would say that this action by your doc. is highly questionable; It seems ill judged, not to mention unethical and probably illegal. Doctors are meant to base their findings on a personal and thorough observation of the patient through examination, not act by proxy for someone who may well have an ulterior motive.Your doc. is of course free to discuss his/her concerns with you, but if he/she found no (obvious)evidence of mania in your case, then to withdraw your meds would be very wrong.
I'd point this out, and if you get no redress, report the doc.
But that's just how I'd deal with it personally.
Posted by cybercafe on August 9, 2002, at 8:10:15
In reply to Legal Assistance w/Uninformed Docs?, posted by Miguel Ebay on August 9, 2002, at 0:50:14
why don't you just ask the doc "so what is it that makes you think i'm manic?" and then see if that is reasonable or not
Posted by Dr. Bob on August 9, 2002, at 11:54:15
In reply to Legal Assistance w/Uninformed Docs?, posted by Miguel Ebay on August 9, 2002, at 0:50:14
> My question is do I have any legal recourse?
This board is for discussion about medication issues; follow-ups regarding legal issues should be redirected to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020804/msgs/28352.html
Bob
PS: Follow-ups regarding posting policies should be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration, thanks.
Posted by inertia on August 9, 2002, at 15:07:00
In reply to Legal Assistance w/Uninformed Docs?, posted by Miguel Ebay on August 9, 2002, at 0:50:14
This is just my personal feeling, but if I were in your place, I would see another doctor for two reasons:
1) To have him/her continue prescribing Effexor
2) In the slight chance you may be manic/hypomanic the second pdoc would provide a second opinion. Hypomania can be VERY subtle. I had it and didn't know I had it until it got more severe.
This is the end of the thread.
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