I work in a clinic that dispenses controlled substances. As such, we have various and sundry very stringent rules in place so as to prescribe as safely and therapeutically as we possibly can.
One of those rules is: "If you know you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, it is your responsibility to inform the clinic. Failure to do so will result in termination as a patient."
Back the first part of last month, we got a fax that a patient, in addition to being a 'guest' of another state, had had a positive hCg at the facility. In cases such as that, we turn care over to the OB/Gyn.
Said patient showed up today, acting as though nothing was amiss, and did not disclose her pregnant state until confronted with it. The conversation ran the gamut of her legal troubles, her 'stress' and her need for her pills. I politely informed her of our policy (did not terminate her on the spot as I probably should have) and asked for the name of her OB/Gyn so that we could contact them to send records of her meds, etc.
That's when I'm pretty sure my blood pressure hit higher than it ever registered before, even counting my toxemia-plagued pregnancy.
"Oh, I don't have one. We're not going to continue with this. It's just not a good time. So, what do I do? I need my pills. Do I just have to bring you proof that it's done and I can have them?"
In a nutshell ( and yes, I'm being judgemental here), she didn't keep her legs together, and now she's just blithely going to terminate a pregnancy so she can get her candy. It's an inconvenience for her. Before you flame me, I consider myself pro-choice. In cases of rape, incest, extreme youth, maternal danger, or a known fetal condition that will result in little to no quality of life, I support the termination of a pregnancy. Not because one had no foresight to take precautions. And yes, we did ascertain that none of the above were a factor. She didn't care to announce it to the entire lobby, triage, and clinic in general.
I was so mad I was shaking. Maybe it's the miscarriage of my first pregnancy followed by a difficult and premature delivery of my son making my hormones run cattywompus, but I could have absolutely ripped her head off. I can't remember the last time I was that mad.
She then had the nerve to hang out in the lobby 'just to see if the doc comes in, so she can go ahead and see if I can have my pills'. The secretary finally had her leave.
My question...am I wrong (or hormonal)? I know ultimately it's her choice and her body, but it just cheeses me off to no end. All she was worried about was the pills! That's all!
Sorry for the rant. Full moon and a bad day. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing your take.
