Threatening Patients

[odoreater]

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I had a patient (arrested, requesting methadone) who, when told that I wouldn’t give him methadone since he showed no signs of withdrawal stated that he would “come back and get me” because he “knows where I work.” Have any of you had similar experiences? What happened if you did?

 

[southerndoc]

A patient once told me he was going to wait for me out in the parking lot and kick my a** because I wouldn't give him methadone.

My reply: "You're still not getting any methadone. Is there anything else I can do for you today?"

 

[NinerNiner999]

I introduce these people to DaQuon - one of our security guards. Then they usually feel better...

 

[mikecwru]

I introduce these people to DaQuon - one of our security guards. Then they usually feel better...

I get physically threatened by drunk trauma patients daily. They're usually assaults.

My usual response: "Look.... we've already proven you can't fight today. Do you really need your ass kicked again?"

mike

 

[peksi]

At our insitution, like most we are generally teaming with local and state police. Our hospital policy is that in any such threat situation like this is, notify police of a terroristic threat, and then we wave goodby as the less than cordial patient, once medically cleare goes back to jail or to jail for a new "experience"!

 

[beyond all hope]

Now working in the burbs, I don't get threatened very often.

The few times I have, I've laughed in their faces. I trained in Israel, South Central and North Philly. The thugs around here are just wannabes.

 

[Daiphon]

if they're that pushy, then it's time for the triple-contrast CT or rigid proctoscopy. =) just kidding...

honestly, in my hospitals, there are so many other local area ED's that if I say no, they may get all puffed up; but they'll leave, knowing they have a chance to get their "needed" meds elsewhere...

-t

 

[The White Coat Investor]

I had a patient (arrested, requesting methadone) who, when told that I wouldn’t give him methadone since he showed no signs of withdrawal stated that he would “come back and get me” because he “knows where I work.” Have any of you had similar experiences? What happened if you did?

DAng nabit, I thought this thread was about how to threaten a patient.

 

[waterski232002]

My usual response: "Look.... we've already proven you can't fight today. Do you really need your ass kicked again?"

mike

That's awesome... I'm stealing that line.

 

[crewmaster1]

I second that. That was hallarious!

 

[Febrifuge]

We have an area pretty much exclusively for the drunk, threatening patients. They get excellent care, of course... but once a patient has been warned what will happen if they don't behave, and continues to demonstrate they have no intention of being good, we get more liberal with the sedatives. 😎