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Discussion

Ethical Question

Hi,

I am a new LVN working in an out of network specialty office. One of the doctors I work for constantly does tests on patients that they don't need, the tests are extremely expensive and instead of tailoring the tests to the needs of the patients she orders everything so she can charge the patient. Then she has us nurses consent the patient for these tests and the patients ask us if they really need all these tests. We know that they don't; at this point I don't know how to answer the patients questions. There are times that I feel I am not being the patients advocate and doing what is best for the patient, and at times I feel that I 'm risking my license as someone is going to wise up and report this doctor to the board. Any suggestions? Also, when things go wrong instead of taking ownership of her faults she blames the nurses for things she has done.

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    Its not unusual for an MD to order a lot of tests on new patients for baseline information.

    What's her specialty?

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    Can you give an example? If they are completely unnessesary she is committing medical fraud which is a felony. White collar prisons are full of doctors who do this so they do get found out.

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    • Author

    She's a asthma, allergy and immunology MD. She does PFT's on every single patient whether their complaint is SOB, difficulty breathing or not and she does them on 2 and 3 year olds who don't even understand how to do the tests. She also does an entire allergy panel which costs upwards of $1500 on patients who specifically say they are only worried about certain allergens. Then she does ID's on every single patient after the huge panel that cost upwards of an extra $200, then blood work. In my heart/gut I know she's committing medical fraud, and the other nurses who work there have the same feeling.

    When Dr's like this are found out do those who work for them get their licenses taken away?

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    • Author

    Intradermal

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    I would think in order to take away your license, they would have to prove that you were knowingly providing unnecessary care with some kind of kick back attached.

    Have you spoken with anyone in a similar office or specialty to see if these tests are routine on all patients in their office?

    You could report the doc to whichever regulatory body oversees you.

    Sometimes things seem unnecessary to you, but they may have a policy that establishes a baseline on all new patients.

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    Doctor is revenuing. Medicare/Medicaid should be informed. It can be done anonymously.

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    I think you could change the title to question for allergy/ immunology nurses in order to receive defined responses.

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    When the patients ask you about all the tests tell them to ask the doctor to explain each test before they have it. And if all the tests aren't necessary I'd report it.

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    FWIW, I thought I knew what allergens were causing me problems, but when I did the full test, I had no reaction to those allergens, but reactions to five others.

    It may seem unnecessary, but there's likely a method to the madness.

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