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Skeeter Barnes

(994 posts)

47. I know the feeling. Was accused of being on meth by an ER doc because I had bad teeth

Thu Aug 13, 2015, 04:48 PM

Aug 2015

and I'm a truck driver.

I had collapsed at the terminal due to fatigue. My head hit the ground hard enough to split open and knock me out so an ambulance took me to the ER. I woke up to this doctor saying I needed to admit to being on meth and he was going to tell my employer. I was barely conscious and in a lot of pain and this asshole was giving me a browbeating over something I didn't do.

When the results of my piss test came back clean I wanted to go back to that hospital and demand an apology but I probably would have just been arrested.

I think in addition to minorities, those of us who are poor and/or not good looking are just worthless in a lot of people's eyes. We are unwanted portions of the population, little better than the worst criminals.

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I Was Shamed by My Doctor for Being Black [View all] KamaAina Aug 2015 OP

ER docs do that to almost everyone who comes in with claims of pain Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #1

Yep. bunnies Aug 2015 #2

One of the real problems our community has is an epidemic drug use especially opitates. The DEA jwirr Aug 2015 #54

I used to live upstairs from a woman who was constantly... bunnies Aug 2015 #60

Yes over the years I have witnessed much of what you talk about. And in all races. Addiction is a jwirr Aug 2015 #62

I would take a look at the DEA sorefeet Aug 2015 #65

I am not lobbying for the DEA. I am working for the tribe. We are trying to find any way we can to jwirr Aug 2015 #66

I am working as a lobbyist right now sorefeet Aug 2015 #69

I know that - my SIL was badly hurt when he was in the army in Turkey years ago and they jwirr Aug 2015 #91

guess that makes it ok to force people to live in pain. are you going to TheFrenchRazor Aug 2015 #100

And are you going to pay for the funerals our here this year? I am not lobbying regarding ERs jwirr Aug 2015 #112

You are... onyourleft Aug 2015 #85

agree - I didn't see anything there, that specifically mapped the accusations to race HFRN Aug 2015 #4

"Because we were black, the meeting was surrounded by security guards, in case we 'acted up.'" KamaAina Aug 2015 #5

'Because we were black, the meeting was surrounded by security guards, in case we 'acted up'' HFRN Aug 2015 #6

Okay so explain why they needed security guards at the meeting? Rex Aug 2015 #8

because the doctor is assuming an upset addict? HFRN Aug 2015 #11

Thanks, it has to do with race just like I thought. Rex Aug 2015 #15

what - you did a vulcan mind meld, to read everyone's mind? HFRN Aug 2015 #18

That seems to be a yes mythology Aug 2015 #31

thank you HFRN Aug 2015 #32

You will note they don't say how the patient or family were behaving Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #38

Code Gray? japple Aug 2015 #51

You would need security for me if you denied my loved one pain meds nadine_mn Aug 2015 #123

You then believe it's standard to surround guests invited to a hospital meeting with guards? LanternWaste Aug 2015 #14

Not for white people, different set of rules. Rex Aug 2015 #17

Not for this white person -- I was denied needed prescription drugs for the same reason whathehell Aug 2015 #56

How were the patient and family behaving Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #39

Obviously calm and cool. Igel Aug 2015 #70

Evidence isn't needed anymore. Ask Danielle Watts or BLM's Marissa Johnson uhnope Aug 2015 #30

Danielle Watts got caught having public sex and tried to make it about race. Comrade Grumpy Aug 2015 #33

If I may I work in the medical field and it is absolutely TRUE azurnoir Aug 2015 #41

That is very true especially if you go to ER. At our own clinic that is not true of course. In fact jwirr Aug 2015 #58

Oh, your last... onyourleft Aug 2015 #88

It could have been too that security guards were called because the family was agitated & demanding... Journeyman Aug 2015 #7

Or it could have been the hospital stereotyped the family and now can't play CYA fast enough. Rex Aug 2015 #10

I've always wondered what it would be like, for a white and a black person to trade places for a day HFRN Aug 2015 #22

Yes it does. Rex Aug 2015 #13

So you think this doesn't happen? ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #24

I'm saying the writed stated it as a fact, yet only presented an account that supported a suspicion HFRN Aug 2015 #25

What is that do you suppose? ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #27

I suppose that it may or may not have been about race HFRN Aug 2015 #29

There are interesting studies done on perception of racism ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #35

I was prescribed narcotics for the pain resulting from bursitis even before X-rays were taken. LanternWaste Aug 2015 #19

Then don't move your arm like that!!!! NT 1939 Aug 2015 #64

That's a terrible catch 22. LWolf Aug 2015 #20

Good question Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #37

That's one to think on. LWolf Aug 2015 #115

Doctors, pharmacists and only by warrant LE Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #117

Agreed - there's more to this story sub.theory Aug 2015 #46

Not my experience in the ER salib Aug 2015 #50

You've been lucky or presented with real enough symptoms Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #53

Ha Try being a middle aged, middle class white woman TexasMommaWithAHat Aug 2015 #67

I have a friend who went to the ER with a slipped disc in horrible pain. All they did was read him RKP5637 Aug 2015 #105

Yep. nt Nay Aug 2015 #107

Drug seeker? Is that like a drug user? Sounds like the doc is a fucking moran that listens to Rush. Rex Aug 2015 #3

One of my sister-in-laws is regularly denied medical assistance because she only wants drugs. . . Journeyman Aug 2015 #9

I'd rather a drug seeker get a high Turin_C3PO Aug 2015 #16

Absolutely. Mariana Aug 2015 #26

Thats just a damn good point there. snort Aug 2015 #43

100% agree. nt laundry_queen Aug 2015 #79

That's where I'm at, too. Legalize them all, even though it means we will lose some Nay Aug 2015 #108

I wouldn't be surprised if we had fewer overdoses overall. Mariana Aug 2015 #113

I agree. Standard dosage, uncontaminated drugs would likely decrease the OD Nay Aug 2015 #116

Many docs may agree with you- but the DEA forces their hand Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #40

This. onyourleft Aug 2015 #92

word. nt TheFrenchRazor Aug 2015 #101

Oh that is standard procedure these days justamama83 Aug 2015 #12

Ridiculous. Turin_C3PO Aug 2015 #21

This article does shed light on how the War on Drugs can lead to racism daredtowork Aug 2015 #23

NO, ER docs do NOT do that to everyone. They see and treat real pain all day long. Pain Hortensis Aug 2015 #28

I find that difficult to believe given my own personal experiences. deafskeptic Aug 2015 #36

I'm so sorry, Deafskeptic. Your suffering reminds me of Keith Obermann's awakening when his father Hortensis Aug 2015 #68

Bringing in security raises the level of tension and the hospital knew that. Rex Aug 2015 #45

What they aren't telling you is they started yelling sub.theory Aug 2015 #52

And you are just making shit up out of thin air. n/t JTFrog Aug 2015 #72

You've only heard one side sub.theory Aug 2015 #74

Like I said, making shit up out of thin air. n/t JTFrog Aug 2015 #95

I can't speak for everyone sub.theory Aug 2015 #96

Do you have a link ? Or are you relating what happened to you not the OP ? Person 2713 Aug 2015 #98

They did that to me. Crunchy Frog Aug 2015 #120

Must have been an ER doc....they see 100's of drug seekers a month. ileus Aug 2015 #34

While I think it is harder for many to get pain medication these days, Live and Learn Aug 2015 #42

I can't get percocet for a herniated disc at C6-C7 anymore. Turns out that's OK. THe next time stevenleser Aug 2015 #44

Percocet worked well for me too. Now we have doctors and even states requiring drug tests TheKentuckian Aug 2015 #128

I know the feeling. Was accused of being on meth by an ER doc because I had bad teeth Skeeter Barnes Aug 2015 #47

Wow, that is terrible. Live and Learn Aug 2015 #80

Huh? My white grandmother used to get that response regularly. Marr Aug 2015 #48

Pharmacies can also be hostile and/or bias when it comes to black folks... ariesgem Aug 2015 #49

That is appalling -- I hope she can successfully sue the doctor and/or the hospital. whathehell Aug 2015 #55

Shocked by DU'ers reactions to this people Aug 2015 #57

Go ask any ER nurse about drug seekers Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #59

Who the hell are they to determine if her pain is real? Live and Learn Aug 2015 #81

The people who lose their license or go to jail Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #103

That is an entirely different thing. Live and Learn Aug 2015 #118

And why do you assume she's telling the truth? sub.theory Aug 2015 #63

Innocent until proven guilty, maybe? Just a hunch. nt Live and Learn Aug 2015 #82

You can say the exact same thing about the doctor and hospital sub.theory Aug 2015 #84

Huh? The doctor hasn't been fired to the best of my knowledge Live and Learn Aug 2015 #87

That's my entire point sub.theory Aug 2015 #89

So if she didn't file a lawsuit she must be a liar? Live and Learn Aug 2015 #90

No, not necessarily sub.theory Aug 2015 #93

I don't think that is the most statistically likely explanations at all but unless you have valid Live and Learn Aug 2015 #99

You're right on the mark elias7 Aug 2015 #106

Thank you! KamaAina Aug 2015 #71

And those who have fabricated a story out of whole cloth about a screaming drug addict. JTFrog Aug 2015 #73

I got called a "drug seeker" by my primary care doc Crunchy Frog Aug 2015 #121

I'm white and my doctor tries to shame me every time I go in there. leftyladyfrommo Aug 2015 #61

white people problems Supersedeas Aug 2015 #75

like cancer? Facility Inspector Aug 2015 #111

because we all know white people have no real problems Skittles Aug 2015 #122

Why would you continue to go to a doctor that tries to shame you? nt Live and Learn Aug 2015 #83

I'm on Medicare leftyladyfrommo Aug 2015 #102

Well, tats are a sign Gormy Cuss Aug 2015 #76

The doctor should have been fired Rosa Luxemburg Aug 2015 #77

For those who don't get why ER docs are jaded and suspect of patients looking for pain meds. Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #78

Addiction is a disease too. Doctors should treat the addiction if one is actually found, not Live and Learn Aug 2015 #86

You can't help an addict that doesn't want help sub.theory Aug 2015 #94

You're right, addiction is absolutely horrible. Mariana Aug 2015 #97

It is, and it is not helped by criminal penalties, IMHO. It is strictly a medical problem, and Nay Aug 2015 #110

Agreed it's a medical problem sub.theory Aug 2015 #119

Doctors can't force treatment Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #104

Yep-- I've seen elderly women screaming and pounding on the plexiglass divider Marr Aug 2015 #109

Having an actual allergy to Naproxen, that is very upsetting to read. NutmegYankee Aug 2015 #125

Yes, they screw it up for a lot of people Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #126

"Because we were black"? Nothing in the article supports this assertion Taitertots Aug 2015 #114

Race could very well have been a factor nadine_mn Aug 2015 #124

Yep. They do it to Medicaid patients too. Lyric Aug 2015 #127