Dr. Refusing to refill synthyroid

[glo805]

Can my doctor refuse to re-fill my synthyroid prescription because I refuse to have a blood test twice a year. I do not have a thyroid.

[everett2]

Maybe you forgot what your question was. The answer was provided by response #2 that can be summarized with one word -- "Yes"

[monkeemash]

The two responses on here never answered the question. Just a lot of assumptions made instead. I have the same question out of principle because I don't trust doctors. I agree that I have a thyroid problem, but not refilling a medication which can have coma or death as a way of getting your patient into the office to evaluate if they need more, is blackmail. Doctors get paid by SOMEONE, every time you visit them. If you don't have a thyroid, it's not coming back. You may need a higher dose, but you'll wont ever be going lower in dose. There is no step down for life support.

[Barb135]

As everett22 said below - response # 2 answered the question.  In case you missed it, the answer is Yes, a doctor CAN refuse to refill medication if you refuse to have blood work.   If you refuse to have requested blood work, your doctor would consider you “non-compliant” and therefore can refuse to treat you, refill scripts, etc.   It has nothing to do with the doctor getting paid - it has to do with whether a patient is complying with doctor’s orders/recommendations.

You’re incorrect that someone without a thyroid would never need a lower dose.  Although the thyroid will never come back, our bodies change all the time and I’ve known quite a few people, over the years, without a thyroid who had to lower doses, particularly, if they lost a lot of weight or made other significant changes in their lifestyle.

[mizzkitty632]

Non compliant? A patient has every right to disagree with a doctor’s recommendation, they are the boss of their own body and the doctor must comply with the patients wishes, not the other way around! This doctor sounds like a spoiled brat “you do what I say or I’ll deny your medication and kill your child!” It’s sick and anyone who does something like that should be locked up! I can’t believe people are so insensitive, the poor woman lost her baby because her sicko doctor threw a temper tantrum!

[goolarra]

I agree.  Demand for thyroid hormones changes over time.  I'm sure YOU know how you feel and probably have a pretty good idea whether your meds are appropriately adjusted or not, but your doctor can't get inside your body to see how you feel.  So, he has to go by labs and reported symptoms (or lack thereof).  He's perfectly within his rights to refuse to refill your script until you have lab work done.  In our litigious society, he'd be opening himself up to a malpractice suit by not testing.  Until something changes how medicine is practiced...  

[Totie]

Why would you not have blood work done to see if you are being under/over medicated.