Is a doctor guilty of anything if he delayed treatment but no harm resulted?
First of all I NEVER go to the doctor but I get a routine physical each year. Last December 4th I had been sick for 2 weeks with a bad cough and bronchitis-like symptoms. I finally was told go to doctor by my concerned employer because they felt there might be MOLD in our office. I went that very day to my DR. of two years and he did chest xray and prescribed antibiotic. That treatment worked and I also found there was no MOLD. More than a week later the DR. contacted me to come in for treatment of high blood pressure recorded during the Dec 4 visit. By the time I was called I was recovered and did not have high BP and declined to see the DR. for this again. He wrote on Feb. 18th he had discharged me as his patient due to ‘non-compliance’. I ask you, why did he not treat the high blood pressure the moment I was in distress???? And why dismiss me now, as I do NOT have High BP.
I ran out of room on the first detail. To answer the question I know I do NOT have HP because my husband does and we both monitor our BP. I do it with a separate cuff to encourage him. That is coincidental to my situation too and I wanted to add it. My husband’s BP is 100% under control through medication due to his work, which like my employer require yearly physical. Thanks.
As I said, this DR. did not even address my BP at time of visit. Where was the concern then? I was taking 3 different OTC medicatations: Dayquil, Nyquil, Robitussin by the time I was seen and those were making me sick at my stomach and I coudnt take it anymore. Thanks.
Marco, you are so right. And this non-compliance issue is my concern too. Will I be able to find another physician? This whole situation is crazy. I mean I didn’t accuse him of anything or ask questions until the ‘non-compliance’ issue came up. I didn’t even know what non-compliance was and had to ask. Thanks.
Mom, I declined the offer to return is what happened and it was over the phone where the nurse called me later. I guess I should have gone, in hindsight, and would have if I reazlied he could dismiss me. It all seems very unfortunate. Thanks.
Tagged with: antibiotic • bp • bronchitis • chest xray • compliance issue • cough • high blood pressure • hindsight • hp • medication • mold • nurse • otc • robitussin • stomach • thanks mom • treatment of high blood pressure
Filed under: blood pressure treatment
He did not delay treatment, but I can see how this would confuse matters. It’s not unusual to see an elevated blood pressure in somebody who is ill, which you were. It would not be possible at that time, based on the one elevated blood pressure reading, to say with any certainty that you did or did not have a problem. So they contacted you to return for treatment in regard to the elevated pressure. At that appointment, had it happened, they would likely have taken your blood pressure and the doctor could have determined if the previous reading was high because of illness or if you truly had a problem. I’m not sure what happened next- if you actually contacted the office and declined the offer, or if you simply ignored the notice, or if you were called ( when you said you were contacted- I’m not clear if that was a phone call or a card in the mail type thing). He wouldn’t have treated you based on the one isolated blood pressure, because as I said- you were ill at the time. But he would have had to record a treatment plan for the future, because of that reading. Since you did not come in when asked, I suppose that is what they mean by the non-compliance. I think if you wanted, you could probably contact the office and clear it up as a misunderstanding on your part. I would also recommend you at least make an appointment so they can take your blood pressure (if you can). High blood pressure can only be diagnosed by taking a series of readings over several days, otherwise you have no way of knowing what it is. High blood pressure doesn’t usually cause any sort of symptoms, which is why it is so dangerous. The first signs you have sometimes are things like strokes, unless it gets caught in a routine doctor visit. That’s how most people are caught matter of fact. They have no clue prior to that. And just because you don’t think yours is doesn’t mean it’s not. You don’t have to be overweight or out of shape, with a bad diet. My own mother is a very small woman, in pretty good shape for her age- and she has terribly high blood pressure if she doesn’t take medication. She does all the right things, but still- without those tablets, I expect the top of her head would pop off. So if you can, try to go see your doctor and clear up the misunderstanding. Because that is all it really is I think. They thought you were not participating in your own health care, and you didn’t fully realize you needed any followup done. Miscommunication, that’s all it is- and it should be fairly simple to clear up. Good luck, and no matter what comes of it all, please do get that blood pressure checked. At least it doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t involve needles. You have to love a quick painless, bloodless test.
He can’t just treat you then, when your blood pressure is high it has to be monitored over time to see if you have a high blood pressure problem. My blood pressure was high during labor and child birth, they monitored my blood pressure for two months after wards. After two months it finally normalized. Sometimes when your sick or in pain your blood pressure will be higher then normal. Since you declined being seen again to be monitored, he couldn’t diagnose you with high blood pressure.
how do you know yourself you are still not suffering high BP ?but never-the-less i think your doctor was a bit hasty and i think he could have got reception to phone you and tell you it was important for you to see him so i think you should take a bit of blame
Anytime you ask the question, "Why did my doctor do this?" the answer is usually "liability." He discharged you for non-compliance so he couldn’t be held legally liable for any problems caused by your high BP.
As to why he didn’t treat the BP while you were in the office, I don’t know. He may have had a technical/medical reason — drug interaction, perhaps. But the important point is that the only opinion that counts is HIS. He is the expert on medical matters, and everyone — insurance companies, courts, your boss and other doctors will accept his opinion without question.