Doctor’s Practice Under Attack
Dec 22, 2006
By George Brennan
The Cape Cod Times (MA)
HYANNIS - One patient, who allegedly stole prescription pads and made counterfeit copies, called Dr. Rahul Chaturvedi’s office threatening to come in with a machine gun and blow people away.
Another patient got so unruly in the waiting room that police were called to restore order.
Chaturvedi says his Hyannis practice is under siege by patients upset with a policy to stop treating chronic pain with narcotics. The doctor wants to move away from prescribing opiates such as OxyContin because they are addictive.
‘’I'm taking a stand against substance abuse,'’ Chaturvedi said during an interview Wednesday afternoon at his Physician Medical Centers office.
A week ago Thursday, Chaturvedi said a man called his 100 Independence Road office and threatened to bring in a machine gun. A police detail, paid for by the doctor, was posted at the office until closing time for protection, police said.
That same man is accused of stealing prescriptions from the office earlier this month, making copies and trying to have one filled at a pharmacy, police said.
It was unclear yesterday whether the man has been charged, police said, but Chaturvedi said a case is pending. The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office did not return repeated calls seeking comment.
Chaturvedi said there is a campaign by a small number of patients to discredit him and tarnish his reputation. He’s gotten voodoo dolls and canaries, which he believes are fueled by racism. He emigrated from India but is a permanent U.S. resident.
Chaturvedi is apparently fighting back. According to a prepared statement he issued yesterday, Chaturvedi has started the Organization to Fight Adversity from Socio Economic and Racial Inequality Inc. The group’s goals are to improve treatment of Lyme disease and tackle substance abuse on the Cape and Islands.
‘’We have implemented several nationally bench-marked and innovative technology initiatives and clinical processes to foster a safer environment for physicians and patients for excellent quality health care,'’ Chaturvedi wrote.
On Tuesday, Chaturvedi began issuing a letter to patients telling them he would no longer prescribe narcotics. Instead, he offers epidural injections and a new procedure called radio frequency rhizotomy, which exposes nerves to radio frequencies to treat pain.
‘’In keeping with our chronic opiate policy, we have been tapering off opiates,'’ the letter states. ‘’Effective 12/19/2006 onwards, we will not write chronic opiate prescriptions.'’
That enraged patients waiting to see the doctor Wednesday, including one woman who was screaming. Office staff called police at 12:12 p.m., but the patient left before the officer arrived.
Some patients had been waiting since 7:45 a.m. to see the doctor and by noon they began yelling, patient Hally Reyes of Hyannis said. ‘’It wasn’t me that freaked out on him, but trust me, I wanted to.'’
Three patients say they were caught off guard by the letter.
‘’This isn’t right. Everyone is getting shut off from their medication,'’ said Reyes, who takes oxycodone to ease the pain from a herniated disc. ‘’They have to taper you off, otherwise you’ll get sick.'’
‘’They should have called us to let us know,'’ said Donna White of East Taunton. ‘’He should have given us warning so we could find another doctor.'’
Because of health privacy laws, Chaturvedi cannot answer specific questions about patients without their consent. But he can say that he would never ask them to quit cold turkey. ‘’It would be illegal and unethical,'’ he said.
For the past two months, patients have been tapered off, he said, and those who still need the painkillers are issued new prescriptions.
Another patient, who asked that her name not be used, praised Chaturvedi. ‘’He really takes the time to listen to his patients. He cares.'’
Physician Medical Centers has been under a microscope since October. That month, Dr. Neena Chaturvedi, Rahul’s wife, voluntarily agreed to stop practicing medicine while the state Board of Registration in Medicine investigates 11 patient complaints. Those complaints center on access to records, as well as other allegations not made public. A spokesman for the state registration board said there is nothing new to report on the ongoing investigation.
Chaturvedi said recent issues at the center have nothing to do with his wife. ‘’Unfortunately, there are some disgruntled patients who wish to attract attention and attempt to threaten the lives and reputations of their caregivers,'’ he wrote in the prepared statement issued yesterday. ‘’We regret that and pray for a safe and happy holiday for all.'’
http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/
doctorxspractice22.htm
