To the editor:
I had congestive heart failure 12 years ago and I have been taking a medication twice a day, 12 hours apart to keep my heart working properly. I will need to take it every day for the rest of my life. I’m on a call list with CVS Pharmacy and they notify me when my medications are ready for pick-up.
This time last week I was told I couldn’t have my life-sustaining medication “until I made a doctor’s appointment.” The Health Clinic could have called as usual to make an appointment. They could have sent me a notice to contact them, which they have done before. But to deny my life-saving medicine until I make an appointment is incredibly unethical and immoral. My father was a judge and I know how he would have handled the lack of compassion in a case like this, especially when other options had been used and were currently still available.
In a big city even at their best you can still become a “number.”” Here at our clinic you are still a “Human being” and a member of the community. So imagine my surprise!
I really, truly like the office staff, nurses and doctor very much. I have absolutely zero complaints about my care and their service, except threatening me to make an appointment using my most vital medication as a “weapon.”
How many other elderly invalids are they threatening in this same manner, using their greed against our need? It is hard for me to think this is okay to do to anyone anywhere. I can’t be the only one they are doing this to and maybe someone else can write in and explain to me how this is ethical!?
I didn’t want to write this letter and this certainly isn’t a fun, healing experience. My wish is to see this policy changed so no one else is subjected to this type of trauma.
I thought doctors take an oath to do no harm. I guess I was wrong. May I suggest physicians heal thyselves!?
John William Sisson, Nashville
