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Firing a patient

melissa2487
melissa2487

Can a psychatrist fire a patient? 


My mom has been with the same practice for about 8 years. She recently became ill (heart failure) and therefore missed several appointments. We have rescheduled but unfortunately due to my mom being in the hospital so often, the practice told us that she can no longer be a patient with them because she is too ill and to go to her normal doctor -- and the normal doctor does not perscribe xanax or any other pills she takes for her depression/anxiety. She's home now and now she's almost out of all her medicine she takes for her depression and anxiety and is already completely out of some of them and it shows for sure. We do not have much money and this place taking her was for low-income. We have nowhere to go now and is this legal? 

bookmaven
bookmaven
If you live in the US, try your county social services department. Ask for referral to the mental health or behavioural health services department and ask for information about doctors or clinics that work with the county.

Unfortunately, yes, what they've done is legal. They have the right to drop patients who no-show depending on their clinic policies.
Community LeaderThePepperMan
ThePepperMan
I am sorry your mom got dropped; is there any chance you can talk to the doctor and explain? Given that it is health issues causing the trouble they may reconsider.

Gentle hugs
Community LeaderWanderingVet
WanderingVet
Pretty sure there is no law that a doctor must treat or continue to treat anyone.
soulsearcher83
soulsearcher83
Yes, unfortunately, it is legal. I got a warning for canceling too many times and they said that they were going to drop me. That was for therapy but the same practice prescribed my meds. I thought I was doing the right thing by providing notice when I couldn't come. But it's not enough. In part, because they are always others who need those slots. So I forced myself to go to therapy, which didn't help anyway. But I still got my medicine.

Ask they if she can come back for an appointment for refills to tide her over until she gets a new doctor. It's not a guarantee but it's worth a try.