Some stuck without medication after doctor is accused in patient deaths
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – A Louisville man is out of pain medications and says he can’t get the medicine he needs because his doctor is now charged in the deaths of five people.
“I mean I don’t want to be like this,” said Ricky who asked WDRB not to show his face or use his last name.
For the past five years he has used the same doctor to get his medication.
“I have trouble sitting too long or standing too long or walking or sleeping,” said Ricky.
The opiates, used to treat his persistent back pain, ran out on Saturday.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been through a deal where I’ve needed medical attention and I can’t get it,” he said.
Ricky says his prescription, filled once a month, included hydrocodone and morphine.
“At first you get the shock of seeing your doctor and then you realize oh hell, what am I going to do now,” he said.
About two weeks ago Ricky’s doctor, Jamie Guerrero, was charged in the deaths of five people. The anesthesiologist was also accused of prescribing oxycodone, hydrocodone and methadone to 30 patients without a legitimate medical reason.
Last month he pleaded not guilty and surrendered his DEA license.
Ricky says he’s spoken with several different doctors including his dentist who have told him if he has a real emergency to go to an ER. But he says these doctors can only prescribe certain medication for just a few days.
“I feel myself now like I’m kind of nauseous and stuff and I’ll probably cave to that. That’s probably what will make me go to the ER is if I get really sick,” he said.
The Greater Louisville Medical Society says people can head to its website and click on ‘Physician Finder’.
If Guerrero was their doctor, they will likely be re-screened and re-evaluated. Leaving patients like Ricky wondering how long they might wait for a referral.
“This has been like a long process for me and I’m just gonna be sick and in pain,” said Ricky.
Guerrero remains free on a $50,000 bond. He’s due back in court on March 31.
Filed under: General Problems
I have to add about the doctor above that the DEA has shown and proven to put targets on the back of all pain management clinics. Tennessee has stated that they plan to use the monthly monitoring medication sheet to investigate the top providers. With targets on their backs they still choose to help the patients in pain in spite of the discrimination that all others treat the same class of disabled. As these providers choose other fields the number of specialists decline. With unreasonable restrictions against other skilled providers being limited on providing narcotics that only leaves the clinics with long waiting lists. Again discrimination against the disabled in limiting their providers. IF THE DEA cared about the patients they would make sure all had access in a timely manner to the care they needed. Weren’t they part of the plan to only allow a 30 day supply of medication and require a expensive visit every 30 days? Trust me I have played their game for the last 15 years and will for the rest of my limited life. My conditions are incurable and will only get worse. But knowing that the DEA interference has tied the hands of those compassionate enough to care really makes one think. The DEA regulations have hit my poverty level income by requiring extra painful travel, more doctors visits and higher copays. I will never believe that they are on the side of the patients. Especially after what they did to those innocent disabled patients from the clinic above. I hope God has a place for them.
I knew about the risk but the alternative of not being able to handle the pain was worse. At that point all other methods of pain relief were ineffective and I was willing to do anything to stop the suffering including death. The narcotics have prolonged my life by 15 years. Long enough to see my 4 grandchildren born and to be a little of their lives. If the Bill that ends the right for relief of suffering passes in Tennessee soon I guess I will too.
NarCotic refugees.
Class action.
Ironic, patients die under the care of a doctor all the time….from diabetes, heart disease, name it, patients die and yet nothing is done to these doctors…their practices arent shut down, no public flogging, trial by the media, no patients ‘refugees’ left to find doctors to take their cases….but just a hint or whiff that a patient dies from maybe mis-using pain medicaition from a doctor and BOOM the doctor is immediately shut down, arrested like a murderer, tried in the media and all his patients are suddenly criminals and cohorts in the crime and cannot get help…..something is so wrong with this picture folks. And when this doctor is found to be innocent its too late, his reputation is ruined and there is no public apology and his patients are still screwed
I know I sound like a conspiracy theorist , but it’s seems to me , any doc out there that would treat a patient humanely ,is being persecuted…my thought for this is ,they are steppingon toes.,the “other” doctors, phamasudical companies want the more expensive treatments.. and the DEA Is policing the whole thing.. the sick,injured and in pain people are in big trouble here.
Dear Steve, I’ve been following u for awhile..love ur articles..I’ve been living in chronic pain now for 16 yrs. I have several painful conditions..my concern is why aren’t patients warned of the long term effect of using all these medications? Nobody explains to u what they do to ur organs..I just found out I have liver disease, gallstones and my pancreas is inflammed..I don’t know the extent of the damage at this point due to their still doing testing on me..I’m not a drinker never really have been..but the Tylenol that’s in several of these pain meds is very damaging..just wanted to share my story hoping it helps someone else before they have to suffer the same fate as me..without my meds I can’t function with them I’m damaging my liver…what other choices are there when u have such little quality of life..thank u
Ridiculous..these patients should be given.immediate access to their records which might make it easier to find a doctor and the health department should also be assisting in finding docs before these patients go into withdrawal.
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