Reply #11: Thanks for writing.

[AnArmyVeteran]

I didn't sign any contract with the doctor prior to initial treatment over 5 years ago. But I was told in order to get a refill of my pain medications I had to give a urine sample which I did because I had to have my prescription refilled. I didn't sign anything at the time of the drug test but after I peed in the drug test cup and gave it to them I received a renewed prescription with two refills as has been the norm for the past five years.

I live in Texas and laws here are very right wing so I'm sure they aren't the same as in California. I started seeing thus pain management doctor over 5 years ago when I had a different insurance company. Three years ago i had to change medical plans and this doctor wasn't part of their network. But I continued to see him because he knew my medical history and he had injected my back periodically with steroids to reduce the pain. Because he is not in my current medical plan I am 'cash pay' so I pay more to see this doctor but his office is only 5 minutes away from my house and the nearest pain management doctor who is in my plan is 25 miles away.

Over a year ago I thought of switching to an in-plan pain management doctor, but the doctor I saw sounded more like a district attorney than a doctor and I refused to sign a contract with her. At that time it was a matter of principle because she made me feel like a criminal instead of a patient. Any doctor can look at my x-rays and MRIs and easily see why I am experiencing severe pain so I didn't understand the heavy handed attitude that in-plan doctor had. She questioned everything about me except my symptoms, severity of pain and frequency of pain. Hell, she didn't even touch my body. Like I said, I felt like I was on a witness stand being cross examined by a prosecutor rather than listening to a doctor concerned with treating my pain. After I left I complained about how that 'doctor' made me feel and that I would not ever want her to treat me in the future. I further stated I could not trust a doctor who could not trust me.