My wife and I are very concerned about the combination of vicodin and valium being prescribed for my mother in law. She is showing alarming side effects, but her physician will not discuss with us since we do not have permission from her and she will not give it due to her dependency for the medication at this point. We desperately need help and do not know where to turn.
If she lives with you, I'm not sure what you can legally do but if you can get her into inpatient rehab for 30+ days then you can get a legal eviction (based on your state's laws) and she can go live in a sober home afterwards or AL but do not let her live with you ever again.
If it's your home maybe you can set up cameras to see what she's doing and maybe even where she is stashing her pills. If she's doing anything illegal (like stealing) you may have grounds to kick her out. Does this person still drive? The minute she gets into her car and you think she's under the influence, call 911 and report her. Good luck!
1. Reporting concerns. You should put your observations in writing to the physician who prescribes your MIL's medication, emphasising that you believe her behaviours may be the result of [give the exact px details] and [second exact px details] in combination. Mark it "for the urgent attention of Dr [Name]." It will be attended to.
2. Discussing your concerns with your MIL's physician. Discussion implies two-way communication. Your MIL's physician absolutely is bound by her professional duty of confidentiality to her patient and cannot say a single word to you about her without her consent. It's basic. It may be a pain, but she can't do it.
Try again. Make it clear that you are understand the HIPAA rules and the requirements of patient confidentiality and are therefore not expecting a response to the information you have provided, but that you would like receipt of it confirmed. Or send it by a signed for delivery service, if you like. Taking information *in* is no breach of doctor-patient confidentiality; but stop expecting feedback because you won't get any.
Then again, if your mother won't see her what are you expecting the doctor to do? When's the next refill, do you know?
By the way, just noted a further comment: as the doctor won't speak to you, how do you know what the doctor believes the truth to be? I'm pretty sure that if this doctor, this mandated reporter, actually believed your mother's misrepresentations you'd already have been arrested. Do credit the physician with knowing her job.
If she is acting strange - as in overmedicated - take to the ER or call EMS. They can get her for inpatient treatment for overmedication or medication dependency issues (preferable term compared to OD which is near fatal). Unless she is declared incompetent, she has the right to live her life any way she chooses.
If she has signs of substance abuse/dependency that is interfering with her life and relationships, I recommend you both attend Alanon or a similar support group for family and friends of substance dependent people. You need to avoid co-dependency issues while trying to obtain better care for her.
Lying and getting your wife thrown in jail is a BIG deal. You are correct that it could have adverse consequences for the rest of your lives. Plus, next time she will be believed again because your wife now has a record.
Her drugs obviously mean more to her then her wellbeing or you guys. Nothing can give you back your own wellbeing and reputation if she is allowed to destroy them.
Please get out before someone ends up in prison.
HIPPA is is harming not helping. My mom is 88, and no one seems to be able to help me get her to a doctor for a psych eval so that I can move forward to get her out of a dangerous situation. Yet everyone agrees, she is in a dangerous situation. It's beyond me! Should be a 60 Minutes story, honestly.
The doctor can’t legally discuss. They could lose his/her license if they violate the HIPPA law. Sadly the doctor’s hands are tied.
You are prioritizing your mother over your wife.
Please move out and get away from this toxic situation.
If you feel the doctor is abusing the patient due to over-prescribing narcotics, contact your local sheriff's department.