Question by Jennifer: Is it legal for a doctor to deny prescribing a patient medication based on their appearance?
A friend of mine went to the doctors to get a prescription (I’m not sure what it was, but it was almost like methadone) to help him get off the narcotics he was addicted to. The doctor took one look at him and said “I’m not prescribing you anything, just look at you. You’re just looking for a way to get high”. My friend has tattoos covering his body and has some on his face/head. Is it legal for the doctor to judge like that?
Best answer:
Answer by xxAndreaxx
No, it isn’t. He can withhold medication from your friend if he wants, if it is his medical opinion. But he can’t talk like that to your friend. I suggest seeing a new doctor.
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obviously not. The way he said it was not professional and sounds very bias. If you wanted to take this further you could take them to court, however, I think that if a doctor wants to refuse anything on medication he is allowed, but it has to be for medical reasons, ie. it contradicts with another medication. Just by his looks it sounds discrimination.
Yes, if the doctor thinks he’s just trying to get drugs. His appearance may not be helping, but I suspect almost anybody who walked in on a first appointment might encounter trouble getting a prescription for tightly-controlled drugs.
Things like methadone would be much easier to get if he were enrolled in a rehab program.
Not really but being a trained professional he probable could see in your friends eyes he was off! And they can not just give you a prescription just like that even if he went in without tattoos and a suite and tie on! There’s a process that has to be done first, it’s not just walk in get the meds and back out! And not everyone is right to get on methadone either.
My nephew went in for help and he was tattoo free and he did have dress pants on and dress shirt on and tie, it took several tests and 2 weeks before they put him on a medication to help him get off illegal drugs, and he had to go to rehab for 1 year as well! So no matter who you are it’s not easy! Appearances shouldn’t have anything to do with it, but with all kinds of tattoos it sure don’t help, especially on the face and next. I’m not saying it’s right, but appearances is a major thing today!
Obviously, the doctor can’t say that to his face, but he can think it. Unfortunately, the doctor does have the right to withhold medicine, because he believes your friend is just looking to get high. If your friend is addicted to narcotics there are wonderful programs out there to help him out with out medicine. If he just took medicine to get become not addicted to drugs than he could very easily get addicted to the medicine prescribed. I would suggest to your friend that he seek out a program that can help him out. He can ask his doctor or ask a school counselor.
Yes, a doctor can do that if he really thinks that based on your hygiene, mannerisms, and other things that you are drug seeking. After all, though he could be wrong he has taken an oath to first of all do no wrong so cut him some slack and let him do his job.
While it’s not very professional of the doctor to state it like that, he is well within his rights to refuse a prescription if he feels that your friend is trying to get high. Medical tests to verify many conditions are expensive and time consumer, so it’s often cheaper and easier for everyone involved if these can be avoided. Therefore, doctors often rely on other signs that a person is simply seeking drugs. Think about how your friend may have appeared to the doctor. Was wearing torn/baggy clothes? The tattoos? Private insurance, or Medicare? The poorer/less educated someone looks, the more likely they’re seeking drugs. Furthermore, did your friend ask specifically for the drug? Without a rehab program, that’s a good sign that the person has gotten away with getting it before. You may think the doctor is simply overly judgmental, but there are many people out there seeking drugs, which clogs up the medical system for those who truly need help.
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haha lol thats hella funny. but your friend should be like i do smoke but its cause of my medical condition and i want to do it legally now or go to a doctor that openly prescribes it, ask around
yes it is illegal to deny substance abuse treatment. if he was trying to get on suboxen then the doctor may refuse to prescribe it for any reason but methadone is a garuntee just go to you local clinic and give them a dirty urine however you won’t be aloud to get take homes for a while and you will have to get to the clinic every day. methadone and suboxen are some of the most controled drugs in the u.s and guide lines for take homes are very very strict. it takes 2 years in the state of ct to be able to take home 14 days of methadone at a time and i think suboxen doctors require you have a prior substance abuce history