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Jimmy, I think I must respectfully disagree with you in your specific case.

I've read down the thread and, while I would limit my disagreement with the original post -- I don't know all the details -- my sum feeling is much what you say here...

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You went to the doctor originally, sought his advice, and followed his advice. In giving you that advice, he did assume some responsibility for the outcome of that advice. To make a ridiculous example -- suppose he had prescribed for you something that helped your back pain, but destroyed your liver at the same time. Would you not hold him responsible for the damages?

Not such a ridiculous example. As an aside I think Bitt asked "Kill yourself with acetimenophen/paracetemol?" You bet! Nasty drug, liver-wise. And so many combination drugs, and other drugs with potential long-term effects.

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That doctor is protecting not only his own interests, but your interests as well.

I think sometimes it is just very handy for professions like medicine that interests converge in such a way that -- while "looking out for the patient's/client's interests" -- the doc gets to make more money. Some providers do a better job of monitoring this...."Cognitive dissonance?". Dentists often get knocked for this. I remember last year when I discovered that I could not get a new pair of eyeglasses because my presscription was two years and one month old -- a month over the iimit, a complete racket, the optometrist full employment act, yet a rule put in place ostensibly to protect my (health) interests.

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I can understand a doctor's being reluctant to assume that a patient's condition is unchaged after a decade, and why he would be even more reluctant to assume that the paitent was able to objectively assess his condition better than he could -- unless, perhaps, that patient had years of medical school training and decades of experience in the field of medicine. I suspect that is not the case in your situation.

My cynical aside aside, if I were in the provider's shoes, I could not help but be aware of the many docs who are sued for failure to take due care, failure to meet community standards of care, things like that. When I read the OP, while I was sympathetic -- especially with respect to the economics and health insurance situation -- I just couldn't find a way to villainize the doc. If you were speaking from Canada, I'd like to think that doc will still make you come visit. You just wouldn't be dealing with the economic impact.

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You are asking that doctor to put his livelihood on the line and provide you with potentially dangerous drugs, for which he is liable should there be any negative outcome. I don't feel that his wishing to see you and discuss the issue with you is a particularly onerous requirement.

I might be exaggerating, but I'm generally of the opinion that "adults" should be able to ingest whatever ridiculous thing they want. War on Drugs a complete failure and all that. I'm one of those people -- take non-prescription Ibuprofen in prescription doses! I figure I'm old enough to decide and if I die it's my fault. I just don't think it is a doctor's job to play along with whatever independent decisions I make.

Bit of a ramble, sorry.
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Jim


'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.