I thought I would start this blog with an apology to any of my patients who read this.  For the last month I had been a little scattered in the office as I dealt with a lawsuit.  The suit is settled now, for a loss of $40,000 to prevent going to court on a case where a patient died with no autopsy. I was being sued because the family felt that the pain medications killed the patient.  This despite the fact that the patient was stable on her dosing for 1.5 years with no changes, and there was no medical evidence that the medication had killed her in any way shape or form.

Several patients have assurred me that they would never sue.  I am sorry to say this, but in our society that is so much hogwash to even mention.  All I need to do is piss someone off about their care and I have been threatened with lawsuits in the past.  Of course I drop those patients in a hurry, but in this case, the patient was dead, and the family wanted some free money.  They are not out anything, the lawyer who sued me gets $13,200, and the family gets $26,800 for several hours of work.  I am sorry the patient is gone, and noted that she was a "good patient" whose family "would never sue".  So again, if I act bitter, or plan at some point to quit medicine early, I hope you understand.  The lawyers have made it known to the doctors that we have to be perfect in every way, and since we are only human, with our individual human faults, that is impossible.  I had hoped to be able to bring humanity back to my small piece of the treatment world, but my lawyer pointed out that by letting the patient get by with some dosage changes and some "lost" or "stolen" medications, etc, then I was placing myself and my practice at risk.  I am intelligent enough to realize that being a humanist in my approach to medicine is what I am personally being punished for.

So I hope all of the patients understand.  I cannot afford this kind of medicine anymore.  I have just lost 1/10th of my income every month for the next 9 years to trying to be a good doctor.   I will never intentionally hurt any patient, but I for sure am going to continue to tighten up on patient visit times, refills, and clinic rules.  Those that need more laxity in their care are free to go elsewhere for their care like always.  And I will do my best to regain my optimistic and cheerful attitude at work, while realizing that every single patient visit has to be viewed through the eyes of "how will this look on the witness stand".

Dr. Klos MD