In response to my post on new narcotic Fentora, which was picked up by Kevin, M.D. over at his blog, a physician reads the riot act to a commenter who said that docs should be blamed for any misuse.
Jan
16
Insight, analysis & opinion from Joe Paduda
Yes, doctors should absolutely get blamed for misprescribing this medication.
Please explain to me how they shouldn’t be?
Misuse by the patient, on the other hand, is a completely different animal. There is a subtle, but important difference.
Joe, I have been following your site, nice work. Thanks for insight in “new Actiq” . Thanks for Fl. connection.
Tom Winters
I take Fentora, and have taken opioids for a long time to control pain medications. When a person recieves health care from any specialty, their is an implied and often times visibly stated contract that the patient will be active in their treatment, going in to a doctors visit prepared with information. In this relationship, it is the patients duty to be as informed as possible. With narcotics, there is always the potential for addiction, although extremely small. If a patient does not take fentora, or any other drug for that matter, as prescribed, the consequences are theirs and theirs alone. The vast majority of doctors are acting in the best interest of the patient, and are acting in good faith the best that they are aware of. Now, there may be information that the doctor is not aware of which will conflict with said treatment. If a patient is not honest, for example, about concurrent medications being taken at the time of the Fentora prescribing, or if their is a history of substance abuse in the family, how is it the doctors fault because the patient does not fully disclose? At some point, All people need to take responsibility for their own actions. With any narcotic pain medication, their is an inherent risk of addiction, and with twenty four hour news channels, I find it hard to believe that there are people that don’t know that narcotics are addictive. A person weighs this choice compared with the perception of pain. I am only twenty seven, but my parents tell me of a time when people were responsible for their actions. Stop blaming other people and take responsibility for your choices. Stop being a victim and educate yourself about your condition and the treatments available. Just because a doctor tells you something, does not mean that you are bound to that doctor no matter what. We all have the freedom to choose, so equip yourselves to make good decisions.
This is in regards to “JOSH”S” post above, Josh, you should take your own advice here and educate yourself on the difference between “ADDICTION” and “DEPENDENCE” I am NOT addicted to my pains meds, but I am dependant on them to lead my life in the fullest possible way with my pain. ADDICTS are the ones who
the Doctors need to weed out. it is their responsability to know the difference in dealing with people with REAL pain issues and those seeking drugs to get high or sell on the streets. I don’t know bout you, but I don’t (as well as others in pain) GET HIGH from my meds, I get “NORMAL” I can function in a somewhat normal life when I can actually get out of bed and walk, take a shower and get dressed by myself without the help of others because of my pain meds. this is the difference of Dependence vs. Addiction….get your terminology straight!