Jury Duty

I think that there is a fairly good chance I am going to be bald by the end of the day. Postponed jury duty back in Feb. because I couldn't get a medical excuse from my normal doctor so that I wouldn't get summoned again. Then life happened. Fast forward to now and I am trying again. Because of life I haven't been able to get a new GI guy and when I did have one lined up( before I got the urge to run like hades) both appointments got canceled. First by the fact that I was due to show up the day of the appointment and the second time because 1. I was pregnant( and he wouldn't do anything while I was pregnant) and I was moving on the exact day of the appointment. Now I need to find a new GI guy, get an appointment for NEXT WEEK, convince them to write me a note saying that yes I have IBS and jury duty is a hardship( for crying out I haven't even left the house in three weeks because of severe symptoms), write my own letter as to why I can't serve due to my IBS( I'm tempted to just write it as gross as possible, but that may backfire) and dig out my disability award papers and send them in and make sure they get there before the 27th. Any tips on how to write my letter( in a tasteful way that still gets the point across), plead my case with a new GI guy and stay sane?

Yes I have thought about doing a good clear out the night before and drugging myself up so that I could serve. But that is still not a fool proof way to keep me from getting sick and if it kicks in while in the court room I CAN'T GET TO THE LADIES TILL THEY CALL A BREAK!!!! Yes I called and asked and it's not considered reasonable to ask them to let me use the bathroom on my guts schedule and not their's. Right now I am even willing to go back to Dr. Robot and give him a second chance. When I was talking to the jury duty lady she said that once being on Disability was good enough for a permanent excuse but since so many people are disabled but still capable of serving they changed that. Same with getting a note from a family doctor, too many people abusing it. I need to go play with my weeds( my window box garden), I'm starting to have a mild panic attack just thinking about this.

Around here just being on disability is not proof enough anymore. I need a doctor's note to back up the disability claim. Sure I may get dismissed by the lawyers but there is still the bit about having to go down there in the first place. DH would have to take off work to take me in because we only have one car and no public transportation till we get almost there. DH would have to drive 25 minutes to get me to the closest bus station and then it's a 45 minute bus right from there. If he drove an extra 15 minutes he could drop me off at the front door. Just for that ride I would have to do the whole clear out the day before ( to reduce ammo so to speak) and then NOT EAT till I know that I am not going to have to serve on a jury. It doesn't help that I just called the GI guy that my doc told me to see( I prefer the referral to come from my NP because she's been with me longer but I no longer have the option of being picky) is on lunch and I need to hope he has an emergency opening for next week. He's farther away then I would like but it's in an area that I know so I can plan my route for the one with the most bathrooms. But if I get this accepted I will never be summoned again unless I opt back in.

It's a county thing not a doc's office thing. Too many people getting their PCP to write excuses for false reasons. The doc's office has had that policy for a long time since they found out that they trusted someone enough to write that note and found out they got lied to. I tried my old GI guy and that's how I found out he had discharged me from his care and would get in trouble for writing me the note since I technically wasn't under his care any more. And well I haven't seen the first guy( Dr. Robot) since 2003 so I'm SOL there because it's needs to be current. Trying the new guy once his office comes back from lunch and seeing if I can get in for an emergency appointment. I will gladly pay the whole bill out of pocket of need be.

Just got off the phone with the new guy and he's only accepting new patients if the patient is referred by their PCP( thank heavens I was) and he gets mu medical records and he deems he can do something. So now to call both the PCP and doc that said he couldn't do anything else for me and have them fax over my records. IF this guy is willing to see me I may not get an appointment for two to three weeks. IF he accepts me, it's begging time( not sure how well bribes of homemade cookies would go over so I'll stick with begging.

And my PCP gave me the wrong number before. No wonder I couldn't get a hold of the new guy. It was one digit off.

Frankly I would call them and explain you situation and see if you can get it postpones again so by then you will have the necessary paperwork. I found them very nice when I called about not being able to do it. The clerk can submit your request to the judge. Just be nice and tell her what your problem is. Most people don't even bother to call, they just don't show up and nothng ever happens, at least around here. The chances are the clerk or the judge is well aware of this chronic condition. As for your Dr that dismissed you not being able to write it that sounds like a crocK.

What will happen if you don't go? Where I live nothing happens here where I live. They figure only a percentage of people will show up anyway so they always ask for more than they need. I know plenty of people that really did just forget and they were never contacted. I don't see how they can reguire you to go to a specialist. Why not just send in your note and a copy of your disability papers and tell them Doctor note to follow. Where the heck do you live that they put you thru all this. sounds like they have too much time on their hands.

I think the difference there is they probably had to take a picture for DL but it does sounds strange. I guess it is still a man's world. If they put everyone around here in jail that didn't show up there would probably be an empty city and forget trying to get money out of people but I certainly understand your concern. You don't need that worry.

OK, I'm going to attempt to get the second postponement based on not having the doctor's note. I'm going to send in a copy of my disability award letter and a letter stating why I don't have a doctor's note to be excused and why I can't serve due to my IBS. My one specialist is being a pain in the rear to get my records over to the new guy( I was told not to bother coming in but to just send the letter by a different person at the office because 1) my guy is out of town and 2) they just did a record purge and any records that are not current patients or were discharged 6 months or less ago are in storage and it will take a few days to dig them out. She did say that mine were around there somewhere) and there is no way I am going to get an appointment in time( if any) and a note to the jury people before the deadline. I can only cross my fingers and pray.

Right now I am proof that things happen in threes. I now need to see yet another doctor because a cyst I have on my jaw decided to swell up. I've had it for years and was told it was harmless as it was staying the same size. Now I am going to have to go in a have yet another out patient surgery because the blasted thing went from the size of a half a dried pea to the size of a peanut. And it hurts. Plus I got a phone call from yet another doctor to make sure I had my follow-up visit for out patient surgery I had back in April. I was supposed to do that a month ago and never did because I dropped my regular practice that I went to because they were not listening. I can see the money flying out of my bank account now.

It's not a tumor. It's just a fluid filled cyst that I have had since I was like ten. It's completely harmless but my doc years ago recommended getting it removed if it got bigger solely for cosmetic reasons. LOL my hubby was complaining about the medical bills last week because we got a bill from the ultrasound place. He was joking around that the only reason I married him was for the health insurance. It was 150$ after my insurance paid part. We also just shelled out another hundred bucks for tests that I thought I never did but I guess did happen( I called and asked).

OK I have the letter to them written. Let me know if I'm missing anything or went overboard anywhere.

To Whom It May Concern:

I need to request an excusal from jury duty. I have an illness called Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It does not allow me perform my duties as a juror. I frequently need to use the restroom as I have uncontrollable diarrhea, accompanied by severe abdominal pain. This not only limits my ability to serve, but also severely limits my ability to have a normal, functional life. I was granted Social Security Disability as of March of this year as I am no longer able to hold down a job of any kind. I am currently between specialists and my primary care physician has an office policy that they will not write any excuses for jury duty. They leave that up to the specialist, which I am currently trying to become the patient of Dr. H. W. That is why I am not able to include a doctor’s note with my documentation. If I am not able to get an excusal I would like to be granted a second postponement. If the postponement is granted I would be able to serve starting January 1st 2009. If you have any questions please call me at (***) ***-****.

I'm going to include my disability award letter and anything else I can dig up. I'm also going to see if I can get a note just saying that I have IBS from my doc. Not an excuse just a "yes this person has this condition". But need to call them soon so that hubby can pick it up on his way home from work.

Hmm good point. I probably should add that. The fact that hubby has to take off of work to take me in because we only have the one car and neither of us can take the bus. Oh and I got my regular doc to write me a note. Not an excuse mind you but a note saying that I was diagnosed with IBS. I am still technically covered under "Documentation such as a letter from a licensed physician" Hubby is picking it up on his way home from work.

Post Edited (Lady Frog) : 6/18/2008 1:51:10 PM (GMT-6)

I agree with canyon, if you can't serve now it is unlikely you'll be able to serve in 2009.

I agree with Canyon. You can ask for a postponement but say it is to get your letter from your specialist to permenantly excuse you. I wouldn't send the pamphlet. Most people know what IBS is and since you are sending verification that you have been awarded disability they will know it is much more severe than the little catch phrase people throw around when they have a tummy ache if you know what I mean. But if you want to throw it in I don't think it would hurt you either.

I also agree not to mention transportation issues. It unfortunatly is not an excuse from jury duty in most areas.