Comments on: Doctors Under Investigation In Heath Ledger’s Death http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/ Celebrity gossip from our lips to yours Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:52:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Brokeback Fangirl http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/#comment-27311 Brokeback Fangirl Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:23:49 +0000 http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/#comment-27311 *sigh* What a shame that he died so young when there's technology out there that could prevent such medication mistakes from happening. Crazymom is correct that as patients, we need to advocate for ourselves and be honest with our doctors about the stuff we're already taking. I'm small and I insist on telling my doctors what my medication tolerance is for fear of overdosing. It's a shame most people don't do what I do. R.I.P Heath Ledger. I have a mad crush on you as Ennis Del Mar. *sigh* What a shame that he died so young when there’s technology out there that could prevent such medication mistakes from happening. Crazymom is correct that as patients, we need to advocate for ourselves and be honest with our doctors about the stuff we’re already taking. I’m small and I insist on telling my doctors what my medication tolerance is for fear of overdosing. It’s a shame most people don’t do what I do. R.I.P Heath Ledger. I have a mad crush on you as Ennis Del Mar.

]]> By: D http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/#comment-27068 D Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:38:35 +0000 http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/#comment-27068 I agree with you crazymom. We need in general to always be an advocate for our own health. Heath's death was terrible and tragic, but utterly preventable. I agree with you crazymom. We need in general to always be an advocate for our own health. Heath’s death was terrible and tragic, but utterly preventable.

]]> By: crazymom http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/#comment-27005 crazymom Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:54:09 +0000 http://glosslip.com/2008/02/29/doctors-under-investigation-in-heath-ledgers-death/#comment-27005 I don't mean to knock Heath or his memory, BUT... as a patient it is also a person's responsibility to inform their doctors of any other medications, prescribed or OTC that are being taken. When a person becomes addicted to painkillers, some will see various different doctors (aka "doctor hopping") to try to get better/stronger or more prescription meds. For this reason, 24 states now have what are called PDMP's (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program). The high rate of prescription drug abuse led state legislatures and the medical community to create a database of patients who have been prescribed controlled substances. HOWEVER, there does not exist, to my knowledge, any sort of National PDMP database, and according to the US Health and Human Services website, only 6 states have established agreements to release information to other states. So, theoretically a person could go to different states, see a doctor and receive a prescription for the types of medications that had been prescribed to Heath Ledger. It would seem fairly easy for someone with his financial resources to easily go from California to Texas and other places to obtain his medication if he felt that he might be flagged as an "abuser" under California's or Texas' PDMP. According to the US Health and Human Services website, "All States receiving Rogers PDMP funding are encouraged to exchange data. Collaboration is an important aspect of these activities, and grantees must develop a team of law enforcement and health care professionals and collaborate with other public and private agencies and organizations." Whether they do or not is an entirely different matter. I don’t mean to knock Heath or his memory, BUT…
as a patient it is also a person’s responsibility to inform their doctors of any other medications, prescribed or OTC that are being taken.

When a person becomes addicted to painkillers, some will see various different doctors (aka “doctor hopping”) to try to get better/stronger or more prescription meds.

For this reason, 24 states now have what are called PDMP’s (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program). The high rate of prescription drug abuse led state legislatures and the medical community to create a database of patients who have been prescribed controlled substances.

HOWEVER, there does not exist, to my knowledge, any sort of National PDMP database, and according to the US Health and Human Services website, only 6 states have established agreements to release information to other states.

So, theoretically a person could go to different states, see a doctor and receive a prescription for the types of medications that had been prescribed to Heath Ledger.

It would seem fairly easy for someone with his financial resources to easily go from California to Texas and other places to obtain his medication if he felt that he might be flagged as an “abuser” under California’s or Texas’ PDMP.

According to the US Health and Human Services website, “All States receiving Rogers PDMP funding are encouraged to exchange data. Collaboration is an important aspect of these activities, and grantees must develop a team of law enforcement and health care professionals and collaborate with other public and private agencies and organizations.”

Whether they do or not is an entirely different matter.

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