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nadine_mn

(3,702 posts)

124. Race could very well have been a factor

Sat Aug 15, 2015, 07:22 PM

Aug 2015

but it could have been a case of an ER doctor seeing too many drug addicts faking symptoms.

Reading through these posts have made me more in favor of legalizing all drugs than ever before. Addicts always find a way to feed their addiction and no war on drugs will stop that.

The desperation some addicts have cause them to do crazy things, fake all kinds of ailments etc, etc. Then ER doctors (mostly) have to try to guess what is wrong. So they can either run a crapload of expensive tests that may never be paid or risk giving pain meds to an addict. Well that just sucks for everyone.

But pain is a tricky thing and it is different for everyone. How the hell can one person judge how much pain another person is in? I am so clumsy that I am nearly oblivious to bumps and bruises I get. When I broke my ankle, I barely felt it. When I broke my hand, it hurt really bad, but then subsided. Now menstrual cramps - oh my goodness... I writhe in pain and beg for death some months. Some would say a broken hand should hurt worse than cramps and for some that may be true... not for me.

I would rather people get treated for pain and risk some addicts getting their fix, than addicts not getting their fix but some people are left in pain.

Nothing surprises me anymore as far as racist behavior so I cannot discount this story completely.

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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