Firing a Patient

I have only terminated a patient twice, but it is a step I would not take without considering my motives carefully. Sometimes a patient's attitudes and beliefs create an insurmountable barrier to the doctor-patient relationship.  Has you ever felt this way?

Comments

[Theresa]

On both occasions when I felt compelled to fire a patient, administration was very supportive. We have a set of procedures in place to terminate a doctor-patient relationship, including notification and 30-day prescriptions, etc.

[Jessica Bond]

As a healthcare administrator and previously a physician practice administrator, firing patients is unfortunately a necessary part of prudent medical practice management. While it is not in most physician's nature to ever fire a patient, when a patient is non-compliant, abusive, or even dangerous, firing a patient often is the best solution. Practice Administrators should be able to provide support in this process to both the physician and patient to ease the transition.

[Peggikaye]

I had a rheumatologist fire me for refusing to take prednisone for my lupus. (I was just diagnosed, and he never bothered to explain to me that it would be 5 mg to 10 mg, not the 60 to 100 mg that I took for Myasthenia Gravis issues ... I had never heard of taking 'low dose prednisone'. My only concept of prednisone was HIGH doses and dose packs. He's telling me I'll probably need it for the rest of my life ..but not explaining I'll only need 5 mg.
When in my mind, I'm thinking 60 mg ..um ..no .not going to agree to take 60 mg for the rest of my life when the diagnosis has JUST been found and nothing else has been tried!!

So he fired me for non complience. Then refused to file insurance and tried to bill me for the whole visit ($225 of it). That, didn't work. He DID have to file my visit!

My son's pediatrician fired me when after 3 years of being disrespected, I wrote a note saying "You have to be respectful to me, as does your staff. You treat my kids great, you provide excellent medical care, but being demeaning to me, is not acceptable"

He called me and said "I can treat you anyway you deserve to be treated. If you had letters after your name, you might be worthy of my respect."

WELL GOOD ... I was already looking for another doctor when I got the letter.