Can an ER doctor refuse to treat a patient with a particular disease?

Question

I have Lupus, and was having a bad episode of dizziness, chest pain, headache, weakness and shoulder pain. I recently moved to this city and don't have a cardiologist yet so I went to the ER.

I told the triage nurse that I have Lupus and had brought my medications. The nurse took blood, had an EKG and a chest X-ray done. A physician's assistant came in to examine me, too, and said my left arm was very weak, which concerned him.

Finally, the doctor came in. He looked at my chart and told me that he will not treat Lupus patients. I was shocked! He said that the disease is too serious and it's the policy. He then told me that I will probably have a stroke because of Lupus and wind up in a nursing home! He said my bloodwork showed I have thick, sticky blood, and this is causing my problems. But he would do NOTHING, not even refer me to a cardiologist. I left, feeling just as bad as before and I'm trying to get appointments. My arm is now numb and I can't use it.

What to do?

Answer 1

Look in the yellow pages undr Physician esp under Physician Referrals-nurses staff the phones and after you tell them your ymptons will refer you to the type of doctor you should see and that is the nearest to where you live. Also if they consider your symptons too serious to wait until you get a appt-unless very lucky on the average a nw patient may take from 2-aweek wait-will refer you to a medical emergency clinic near you-Not ER of a hospital-but clinics with a staff of doctors and x-rays and labs and so forth in the clinic. I'd also ckeck into you being refused treatment and not even given a referral for have never heard of This and I'd be outraged-if too serious to be treated in ER could have admitted you OR Referred you to a LUPUS Specialist.Note: I do not have Lupus and your thick ticky blood may be a sympton of Lupus but is is safe for anyone(except bleeder and those told by MD shouldn't) to take a children's ASPIRIN 83mg daily-is often recommended by doctors as a paart of regimen to keep heart/blood healthy-------but in case ofmy blood being a bit thick cannot take Vitamin/Mineral supplememt with Iron(thickens the blood and daily take the Children's Aspirin. Since you can't use your arm you may even go to another hospital ER or find a Lupus specialist asap. Folic Acid is also beneficial-found among Vitamins in any Drug store.

Answer 2

Write down as many details as you can remember of what happened, timeline, etc. You want to do this while your memory is still fresh. Was anyone else with you that can do the same? Then call the hospital records department to get a copy of your ER record. You may have to pay for this - usually a small amount. Make sure copies of all bloodwork, EKGs and xrays are in there too.
From there, you have a few options. Call the hospital administration, and let them know you'd like to file a complaint. Call the state medical board and file a complaint. Or, call a lawyer and let them do the work.
Bottom line is that you were mistreated - what that doc did was completely unethical. I mentioned writing it down because the more detailed you are, the more effective your complaint is. Generic complaints don't go very far. As for getting your records, hospitals have been known to 'misplace' them on occasion. And if you decide to complain to the state medical board or attempt a lawsuit, you're going to need those records. Easier to get them now when the hosp just thinks you want them to show your new doc.

Answer 3

I have seen them refuse to treat someone who there is no basis for treating; malingerers and fakers (Munchousen's and Munchousen's by proxy - I didn't spell that right) or if the person is threatening them or the situation is not safe. I will mention the oath because it is why we go into the medical profession - first do no harm though. I have heard MD's refusing to take a patient based on their ability to pay for their services and I feel that this practice is wrong. There is also the Good Samaritan Act that protects you if you treat to your best ability those in need in an emergency - keeps the lawsuits from evolving too. Legally, I guess it would depend on the state laws for which the refusal of treatment occurred.

Answer 4

It is a hospital policy they can not turn patients away without medical care for any reason.
I would see a lawyer. Call your hospital back and ask for the physican referral line and ask for a referral to a doc in your area. Then call the hospital administrator and make a formal complaint.

Answer 5

Sue the heck out of them. It's against the Hippocratic Oath, and the LAW to deny a person medical treatment. Flat out. Go to another doctor, a real one. That doctor was full of [edit]. I'm surprized he's a doctor at all.