Your Pain, Your Rights: Dealing with Your Physician and Your Hospital

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone

This is a must read for all of us, that was written by one of our members,

Baluss, Esq.and published at the American Pain Foundation.

I don't know the laws in other countries. Please let us know what they are if

you don't live in the States. They may be helpful to others.

Kaylene

Your Pain, Your Rights: Dealing with Your Physician and Your Hospital

http://tinyurl.com/czgvv2

Kaylene

Moderator

[Guest guest]

Kaylene wrote:

> Hi Everyone

> This is a must read for all of us, that was written by one of our

> members, Baluss, Esq.and published at the American Pain

> Foundation.

>

> I don't know the laws in other countries. Please let us know what

> they are if you don't live in the States. They may be helpful to

> others.

> Kaylene

>

> Your Pain, Your Rights: Dealing with Your Physician and Your Hospital

>

Kaylene,

This is great and I love the American Pain Foundation for the legal

and legislation advocacy they do and they keep current information on

the Pain Laws.

I also have a certified letter that I am an intractable pain patient

from Dr. Hochman from the National Foundation for the Treatment of

Pain that has advocated along with other groups for treatment of pain

for patients that it be adequate and appropriate.

These groups lobby behind the lines for us to get the pain care we get

and I am so thankful for them and I try to keep current in my reading.

I encourage everyone to include this in their reading as you say and

glad she is a member.

Kaylene, thank you for all you do and also remember that there is an

advocate at every hospital. The recent event with me waking up during

my procedures and getting none of my pain medications afterwards

reflects the need for a hospital advocate. I got attention when I

said " I am protected by the Patient Pain laws and I am supposed to

have access to my pain medication just as diabetics are allowed to

have access to their insulin. " Boy, the head of surgery then came in

and made sure I got a shot of morphine equivalent to what I take at

that time I was there and was most accommodating. There is nothing

wrong with advocating for yourself.

Now, I have a surgery April the 1st and am already stating that I am a

" pain patient " and opioid tolerant and want to make sure that I am not

in pain and have some accommodation. I do not want any controlling

nurse over me stating " Are you sure your pain levels are that high? "

when my blood pressure is 230/115 as has happened in the past. I

cannot believe that there are medical personnel that STILL do not

understand that the blood pressure is an indicator of increased pain.

I just want to laugh if it weren't so pathetic when they say, Hmm,I

wonder why you blood pressure is so high when I have just told them my

pain level is eight or nine. I will never understand it and it makes

the point that pain patients must sometimes educate medical

professionals in a manner that will get them the care they need. It

should be the other way around and this article reflects the dilemma.

Thanks for sharing this, and thank you for writing it. Bennie

>

>