Vamc Medications& Exams

[Mcafee]

Hello All Hope All is Well.

My question is simple does the Veterans Administration Health Care system have an obligation to a maintenance of any individual taking numerous amounts of medication such as narcotics,gabapentin,tramadol,viagra,baclofin,ETC.

Such as scheduled blood work physical exams,ETC.

Thank You for your feed back.

[Berta]

Every doctor, VA or non VA has an obligation to monitor for meds that might be contraindicated by something else- or dosages that should be either or lower.

Do they do it all the time? NO

I feel every vet and actually every American should have copies of their personal medical records and monitor themselves what they are taking and checking these meds on good web sites to see if they are taking a cocktail that is compounding its own purpose.

For example if a vet takes a HBP lowering med then is given a med for something that also can raise BP--this is something that should be monitored by the doc and perhaps the meds should be changed.

You know my husband was a victim of medical errors that involved 2 separate incidents regarding his medication. I proved , and the OGC agreed, that one of these errors contributed to his death.

But it took a lot of research on my part to find out that what appeared to be an innocent prescribed med (which one can buy over the counter as well) was prescribed to him by VA to take 6 times a day for, to my shocking revelation, a condition his VA med recs revealed he didnt even have.It was only one part of my FTCA case.Negligence has a snowball affect.

This med was also contraindicated by another med they gave him.

If a medication error causes additional documented disability or death the VA can be sued or a Section 1151 claim can be filed (or both in some cases)

Before it gets to that point, any questionable meds or dosage or combos of meds should be discussed with you primary care physician.

Edited January 8, 2011 by Berta

[Pete53]

My Doc will not write or renew scripts unless she sees me first.

[Mcafee]

Thank You for your replies.My next question is there a statue or legal law that applies? Will be part of my FED.TORT claim.along with medical malpractice and negligence as you know I have had a lapriscopic prostatectomy,and other issues to include orthopedic.The Chief of orthopedics at this facility put in progressnotes QUOTE (WE SHALL NOT REVIEW ANY PAST MEDICAL HISTORY)UNQUOTE .Needless to say have not seen an orthopedist at this facility since.I have taken my health care outside of VA to which shall be included in this claim.

Edited January 8, 2011 by Mcafee

[john999]

If the VA is prescribing those drugs to you they have to check you out and do blood and urine work on you. That is their responsibility. If they give you narcotics they WILL check you. That is basic. As far as your private history I don't think that is their responsibility.

[Berta]

"My next question is there a statue or legal law that applies? Will be part of my FED.TORT claim.along with medical malpractice and negligence as you know I have had a lapriscopic prostatectomy,and " ....

Your lawyer would have that answer.

Ethics never became an issue in my FTCA claim.

The sole focus I had was the documented evidencxe of negligence and malpractice and how it led to death of my husband.

I did find an old part of M21-1MR which I used for my FTCA claim.

It was doctor's instructions as to how to handle patients in the ER who were also employees of the VA.

It basically said get them back on the job ASAP.

This is the reason they treated my husband's initial heart attack as a sinus infection.He was a VAMC employee.