There have been some comments here about “drug seeking behavior.” In 1995, when I was 40 years old, I sought treatment at the local Catholic hospital for lower back pain. I was given a pain shot and turned out. I went back a few days later begging for more than just a pain shot. I was told that another doctor said I didn’t have health insurance, and was asked to leave, I don’t remember if I got a pain shot or not. A few days later I was back, this time armed with an Rx to receive an IVP to rule out kidney stones. I was consequently admitted for four days and receive treatment for kidney stones. I was fully covered from the beginning with my husband’s IBEW insurance.
The doctor in the E.R. treated me like a drug seeker; like SH*T. It’s standard operating procedure. There’s just a profile, and as a 40 year old married woman, I guess I fit it. Maybe I wasn’t dressed well enough, or didn’t have on my makeup. Maybe my wedding rings weren’t impressive enough. I felt like hell and was barely functional. Doctors are ridged and the most discriminatory people walking the face of the earth. One of them is going to kill me someday.
Oh, and the hospital have the nerve to charge me for the first two E.R. visits. A well-written letter (something about malpractice pain and suffering, etc.) got those charges reversed.