[SageRave]

I have taken Vicodin for several years with no problems and no narcotics contract, but my original doctor retired. The doctor who replaced him, I have Kaiser, demanded a narcotics contract to refill my medications.
The doctor said it was "for your own protection". I can't anyone who would use this justification for this slap in the face and I now consider my relationship with my doctor adversarial.

Kaiser compiles data but has brushed off my request for statistics about when doctors require narcotics contracts and the break down of which patients are mos often forced to sign them at the point where they need a refill and face writhing pain as a consequence of not getting the refill.

Has anyone in the AMA, or the legal community, started guidelines that pinpoint when a contract is warranted, based on evidence of need and not simply the whim of the doctor?

As a minority woman I feel I have no way to protect myself from doctors requiring contracts due to my race, disregarding my medical record and prescription history, and treating me like a common junkie.

Where can I turn?

[reruho]

Sagerave,
Don't think the reasoning for the contract is because you are a minority female. A big part of this whole contract issue is because of the federal government getting too involved in our lives.The DEA has many doctors too scared to write prescriptions for narcotics.

My first Pm required me to sign a contract when he never prescribed anything but 6 valium pills during the 6 months I was with him. The contract was the most hateful vile thing that I had ever read. I had to sign it or he would not accept meas a patient.

I changed doctors and my new PM has never mentioned a contract. When he prescribed Vicodin for my pain, I asked about a contract and nothing was done about it.

This summer, I had new Primary because my doctor had retired. On our first visit he went bonkers when he saw I had a prescription for 60 Vicodin. He gave me the third degree wanting to know how often I took them and how many had I taken. I was very angry after the appointment with his questions. I saw him again, two weeks later and I had done a complete pill count and even brought my bottle of pills in for him to inspect. I also told him how upset I was that he would question my honesty. But, I also understood that many vicodin was a red flag for him. It turned out I had taken 4 pills in the 10 weeks since the prescription was filled. I think he was shocked that I would call him on his behaviour.

Reta