Screened for drugs without permission

[Anonymous]

My 8 yo dd with ASD had an enormous meltdown at school and was taken to the ER. They ran a ton of drug tests on her without our consent and we got a huge bill for them. I refused to pay it and they removed the charges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s important medical information and should be routine. If a baby is going to go through withdrawal symptoms after delivery or there are medical complications associated with the drugs the providers need to know.

The omniscient providers make the decision without explicit consent or conversation with the pregnant woman, who is a vessel for the baby they are focused on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would refuse to pay if I was billed for that.

Drugs are bad for the baby

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would refuse to pay if I was billed for that.

Drugs are bad for the baby

So discuss that with the pregnant woman, you know, the one who is pregnant and in control of what goes into her body?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s important medical information and should be routine. If a baby is going to go through withdrawal symptoms after delivery or there are medical complications associated with the drugs the providers need to know.

You think medical tests should be given without consent? Because I agree that this is useful medical information, but the point is that it is being collected in a dishonest and unethical way. If providers want to know, they should build trust that they won't go running to CPS and then actually ask the patient and then don't go running to CPS.

Otherwise, you have doctors intervening without patient consent and in addition to eroding trust in the medical system more generally, the result is that drug users will not seek prenatal care at all.

Consent to treat WAS GIVEN. Yes, it was. You absolutely signed some paperwork -- even if just a check on the iPad check-in kiosk. In addition there was a 98% chance that the 4-point type on the triplicate copy of the LabCorp form spoke to consent.

You don't get an itemized consent form when you roll in the door of your doctor's.

[Anonymous]

Thread title is inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

OP I’m the one who wrote above about my Kaiser pregnancy. Sorry for the rude comments you’re getting. Just want you to know that your feelings are valid! There are a lot of unknowns in your first pregnancy and I constantly felt like I was playing catch up and didn’t know all that I should. Don’t let DCUM get to you.

[Anonymous]

Are you white? Do you present as upper middle class or higher? There is definitely a double standard. In general though most wealthy and educated people aren't using Kaiser if they can help it so it tends to have more people who are lower income and less educated.

[Anonymous]

This notion that doctors can do whatever they want to you because you signed a generalized consent to treat (don't know if OP did, but whatever) is BS. You would not apply that logic if It was something you were strongly opposed to, most of you just don't care about nonconsensual drug tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a routine part of pregnancy testing. They do not treat women who come back positive as criminals.

This. Worked at Sibley. You'd be amazed at how many of the rich white women had cocaine in their systems.

Huh? Had 2 babies at Sibley within last 7 years and was never once screened for drug use. (Nor have I ever used drugs of any type).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 8 yo dd with ASD had an enormous meltdown at school and was taken to the ER. They ran a ton of drug tests on her without our consent and we got a huge bill for them. I refused to pay it and they removed the charges.

Drug tests on an 8yo? SMH, glad you got the charges removed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you black? I know a lot of PoC get screened for drugs at a higher rate than white people.

My white child had this done to them without my consent too.

[Anonymous]

They also run a full std panel. It’s a normal part of early blood tests. I was surprised too. But not offended. It’s not personal.

[Anonymous]

I’m in a different state but the only test I have to consent a patient for is HIV. I’m not aware of having to consent for drug screening and if we feel it is medically relevant, we can screen for it. Though I’m not sure how it works with billing and whether you can refuse the charge. However, I just had a baby was not screened for drugs. - doctor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This notion that doctors can do whatever they want to you because you signed a generalized consent to treat (don't know if OP did, but whatever) is BS. You would not apply that logic if It was something you were strongly opposed to, most of you just don't care about nonconsensual drug tests.

Thank you. Obviously a fine print CYA is enough for some institutions, but it's hardly respectful and doesn't build trust between the patient and her care team