Mom filed complaint against me and my doc with state medical board (NEED HELP ASAP)

[Cade1985]

Ok this is a really messed up situation. I went to visit my mother last christmas and while i was out there she said i seemed out of it. So she went through my suitcase and found my pain medication which is all perscribed. Also im not a little kid i will be 25 in about a week. Anyway she took all of my medication which was never returned, called me a drug addict and said i need help and need to be in a rehab. She has no sympthathy for my pain or the bad car wreck i was in. Her boyfriend didnt help matters much either. Me and my mothers relationship hasnt been the best since my parents got divorced when i was 17. Anyway instead of calling the police for her straight out stealing my meds i went through a month of withdraw and thought it was the end of it. Well i went to my docter visit a couple days ago and he informed me that she filled a formal letter with the Colorado state medical board stating that my docter is overprescribing a "Drug Addict" pain medication and that i dont have a job "Which i dont think should matter because the reason i dont is because of my pain" anyway and this docter should be investigated and i should be cut off from my meds and that i am a drug seeking junkie. Now i follow all guidlines and take my Ua's and do my pill counts and have been working with this docter for a year to get the right meds and course of treatment that i can afford since i dont have alot of money. But my docter informes me that i have less then a week to do something about it like write a letter back to the medical board defending myself. This isnt alot of time and i have no idea how to write a proffesional letter as you can tell from my post. Plus i have to get a copy of what she wrote before i know what i need to say to defend myself. The docter also informed me that if i do nothing then at the end of that week he has no choice but to file it into my permanate medical record which will affect me for the rest of my life. He said if i ever got discharged from his pratice that it would be next to impossible to be seen by any other pain managment docter in the united states. Ive tried to call and reason with my mother but she somehow thinks she is helping me? I see her for maybe a week in a total of 5years and she thinks she knows my whole life and is basing it off a side effect of one of my meds because i guess in her eyes i looked like a junkie nodding out before i went to bed. I REALLY could use some help here people im terrefied of this going on my permanate record. I will be trying to get a copy of her letter today, since they werent open on the weekend, but even then i need help defending myself and cant afford a lawyer. He wants 500bucks just to write the letter. I also need to know my rights and any other advice you can give. I am also in jepordy of losing my docter because he is freaked out the medical board is breathing down his neck. Please reply asap if you have input or can help in any way or would like to know more details. And sorry for the spelling im in a rush.

[Darkone24]

I for one am glad I left home at age 16. I am hoping someone there (ie close to you) can assist with your letter, I would write it for you if I had to but as I am in Australia it may not work.
1. Contact the Medical board, request a meeting with someone who can sit down with you and review your case directly.
2. You need to obtain full copy of your medical records, you have basic human rights which include being able to get your records, without delay.
3. Include copies of ALL medical procedures, tests, meetings with doctors etc in your letter and truthfully it doesn't need to be written by anyone other than YOU. Yu know you and your case better than anyone else and have the truth behind you, and passion within, start writing.
4. Legal aid works differently in Australia but surely there is a lawyer somewhere in USA who does Pro Bono work for such a case, civil rights lawyer, medical lawyers would be my first suggestion, and they ALL can make payment arrangements for pay if necessary. Most legal services do offer assistance via phone, at least a first phone call is free and may just point you in the right direction.
5. Just as your mothers letter does not contain ALL of the actual facts neither does your letter. Past history NOT RELEVANT to your current case need not be included in your letter ie: Accident, Pain, Doctor Yes, previous admission of obtaining meds from outside sources? NO.
6. Try NOT to let your current situation affect you, be strong and whilst hard relax, do not allow it to increase your usage, intake of meds, been there and it *****.
7. Make a clear decision regarding your mother. Either STOP all contact, change your number, address etc or continue being dumped on by her. She brought you into this world and I am sure you love her for that but at what point does she let you live your life?
8. WHY have the Medical board given her so much credence? Why is she being believed above you and your doctor? Why do you have to defend your doctor? Why has he not advised the medical board he is right in what he has done and that you are under correct care etc? Change doctors, if possible.
9. Stay in the fight, you have the right to correct medical care and where necessary pain medication and it seems as if you are trying to get your life back by controlling your meds etc and all I can say is keep going.
10. You will win, you just need to start writing, add the information later ie your records and test results.

[sandee1818]

Thank you for that information. I was not sure he could get them legally since it was sent to the doctor.

[melluedtke]

Just how you told us about what happen just take what you wrote on this site you have a right to have your medical records which means everything that is in there you might have to pay for the Copys of them but you an get them. Just go to the doctors office and sign a medical release to get them I am a medical records director and that is your patient right please don't just sit back and do nothing be proactive about your problem

[sandee1818]

I sent you a message with a rough draft to start you off:)

[Tuckamore]

You have had a lot of good suggestions. My heart goes out to you. Keep calling the medical board or request a copy of the letter from your physician.

It doesn't matter that you are not a professional letter writer....or that it is not coming from an attorney. Write as well as you can and do a spell check. But get that letter in the mail asap....it can go over night and request a receipt returned of the letter as well a faxing. But don't delay time is ticking away.

You can state that you have just been informed of her actions and another letter will follow. Don't be intimidated, start writing. Even a not so professional response is better than none so please get moving. The best you can do is guess at what your mother may have said. State that you do not have a copy of her accusations and include the fact that she sold your narcotics from you. That is very illegal no matter what her intentions.

Please let us know how this turns out for you. Best of luck.

~Tuck

[sandee1818]

I wanted to add that while I do NOT agree with your mom's methods here I am a Mom too and I can understand her concern for her child.
She should have sat down with you and discussed her concerns instead of what she did do.
You have rights though and can prevail here so do not give up hope.
Please contact legal services ASAP and get an appointment. To be totally honest though you will not have time to get a formal letter written at this time as time is of the essence here.
You need to gather all the information you can on what your Mom wrote and write a letter yourself to be filed on time and then get a formal one written.
As I said I will help you all I can as well as the others here.

[sandee1818]

Hi,
  I am sorry your in such a terrible situation.
You need to find out how to obtain a copy of the letter your Mother sent. It is my understanding that you will not be able to get it from your doctor since it was sent to him it becomes a part of your file. I would imagine you will have to get an unofficial copy from your doctor if he is willing. When something is faxed or mailed in to the doctor they have no legal right to give you a copy, You have to get a copy from the original source.
I will be glad to help anyway I can.
You have legal services which will help you based on your income. Look under legal services in your blue pages of the phonebook.
I will Pm you more information.

[geminigirl1963]

I would suggest faxing a copy of the letter to the medical board and following the fax up with a mailed copy.  Be sure to keep a copy of the fax transmission report so that you have proof that you actually DID fax it.  Also, when you mail the copy, I would suggest requesting a return receipt, so you have the signature, date, time and location of where the letter was delivered - again, for your benefit.

As far as legal help - give your local social services department a call and see if they hae a listing of lawyers in your area that do gratus work or work at a very reduced rate.  They may be able to help you.  Or look in your yellow pages (or online) and see if there is a listing for legal aid in your area - again, some of those groups will offer reduced fees or even free work.

I will be honest, I'm a little surprised that you were able to find a pain mgmt doctor who would treat you with your past history of purchasing medications "off the street".  Most pain mgmt docs specifically ask if there is any past history of addictive tendancies (which purchasing your meds anyplace other than a legit pharmacy is).  Even though this information is not in your medical records, if your mom or anyone you know is aware of it, there is always the chance that this information could get back to your doctor and the medical board.  I believe it's very important that you sit down with your current doctor and "come clean" about all your past situations with pain meds - taking more than prescribed, purchasing off the streets.  It will be in your best interest to be completely honest with your doctor about all this, as it will help him be able to defend you with the medical board.  If he knows about the past history and it is brought up in a letter or court or wherever this may lead to, he could say something like "yes, I am aware of the pasty history, but she has shown none of these tendancies while under my care and has passed all ua's/blood tests that have been requested".

Please understand that I am NOT judging you for things you may have done.  I'm simply trying to give you some advice on things that may help your case with the medical board and also hopefully allow you to be able to keep your current pain doc.

Best of luck.

[Cade1985]

Yea the docter isnt in the next couple days and i only have 4 days to write my letter back, i called the medical board and left a message, at this point im trying to get the letter faxed to me so i know how to respond. I am just worried becuae my mother has alot of money out there in california and had her letter professionaly typed up. I on the other hand am broke and am trying to find someone to write a decent letter for me. Now as far as all the records go i cant find any from my previous docter which has since closed down and im not saying im perfect here and have never had addiction issues and there have been times where ive taken more meds then i was supposed to or bought some off the street when i was between docs. But none of this is on  my medical record. So as is riight now what im gathering is i need to read this letter, and find someone who can write a well written response for me. What i dont get is if i mail that in it takes a week or 2 to reach them. My docter said i now have 4 days left before this must be filed in my permanate medical record. How can i work around these time limitations and does anyone know of a lawyer or someone that helps with this sort of thing that would be willing to help someone with not alot of cash..

[Mollyrae]

Jimminy Crickets...That's a terrible story. I can't for the life of me understand why your Mother doesn't have an passion for your pain.

The advise you received are good ones. Your Doctor does have a copy of that letter and I'll add that you know most of what's been said in that letter so what you have to do is tell your side starting with the accident..every Doctors visit, what was done at the Doctors office, ua's, pill counts, x-rays..basically your entire medical record.

You are going to have to work hard on this starting NOW. Don't let her do this to you. I hope that you'll have your Doctor on your side. Have you asked him about that? Talk with him again and find out where he's at on all of this. This is against him too.

In any regard, I feel really bad for you and hope that you can work this out. I highly doubt that if you loose and this goes into your records that you'll never get seen again. I feel that there is always a Doctor with compassion and you'll find it. Always keep this non-sense in your own records so that if you ever need to find new pain management, you'll have ammo.

Good luck to you. I wish I could help you further.
Mollyrae

[geminigirl1963]

One thing I would add is to get a copy of the results of all the ua's and/or blood tests you have had while under the pain mgmt care and attach them to the letter (make sure to keep a copy for yourself).  The results of these test could go a long way in proving that you are taking the medication ONLY as presribed.

Best of luck and please remember if anything such as this happens again with a theft of your medication - it's very important to report it to the police IMMEDIATELY.  It not only would be additional proof that you may need in this case, but it also could have avoided you having to go through withdrawals - some pain mgmt docs, if you have a police report of a drug theft, they may possibly permit a one time early refill of your meds.

Again, best of luck - I wish I had more information/suggestions to provide you.

[anniecrawley]

First off the medical board has to give you a copy of that letter and your doctor probably has a copy of it since it is against him the first thing you want to do is get a copy of your medical records since your wreck and now including x-rays from any doctor that you have seen other than this one that was very wrong of her to take your medicine and you needed to call your doctor right then keep notes on a calendar of every doctor visit a calander is a legal tool if you have medical notes on them you can take it to court with you ok the letter you need to write make it like you are telling the. Medical board about your wreck and you are not working because of the wreck what your pills are for the times you take them you should also keep track pf your pills on the calander also because you can take it to show after you write your letter take it to your pain manage doctor and have him read it he should also write a letter. Stating why you are in his care also have copies made of your letter and everything type your letter on your computer usually a computer will correct your spelling. Most have a spell checker then you can print two copies