Posted 10/5/2010 5:45 AM (GMT 0)
A lot of doctors in my area have pain medication contracts now, probably because meth is pretty common here and stealing of prescriptions is even more common. The pharmacies in town even suggest that customers not let anyone know they have these prescriptions so they aren't targeted. The contract I signed with my doctor hasn't been a big deal, he knows what I am taking things for and he knows that if I am going to the ER or get meds from another doctor that it is for a real good reason. He explained it as being more for the new patients he doesn't know well. I make sure any pain or changes is documented in my medical charts, just a phone call leaving a message should do it, and then my doctor is kept up to date on what is going on with me. I know a family who stopped going to their doctor because they were offended when he started having all his patients sign contracts, saying he wasn't going to prescribe any pain meds. They are having a hard time finding another doctor now, they think its because they refused to sign the contract. I don't know if that's true, but I know they regret not signing it now since he won't take them back as patients. It is sad that things have come to this :(