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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Am I being unreasonable to want my doctor to apologise to me?

189 replies

tennor · 14/05/2014 23:08

To cut a long story short my life is falling apart at the moment, I need to sort out work (retrain) and somewhere to live among other things. I’ve been suffering depression and went to the doctor A who referred me to my borough’s psychological services. I spoke to them on the phone and they have made an appointment for me, however they said they were worried about my mental state and asked me to make another appointment at the doctors (I guess for anti depressants). The morning of my appointment I found out that a friend of mine had died. Another Doctor, Doctor B, looked at my letter from Psychological therapies and said “well I don’t know what they expect me to do” she asked me about my mental state too, I replied that I feel stressed and angry. She told me “I know what you’re doing you’re putting this on to bump your way up the housing ladder” – however I am not even on the “housing ladder”. Taken aback by this comment I said I’m stressed out, my friend has died and asked if she could prescribe me some Valium. No she replied, I asked if she would prescribe just 1 pill, she said “I don’t give people like you valium”. I said I think that she is not a nice person and she showed me the door.

I walked out on to the street totally stressed out, muscles cramping. I tried to go home yet found myself walking up and down the road. After about 30 minutes I went back to see Dr B, I knocked on her door, she opened it and said she was busy, I said ok i will wait. She then walked past me and around the corner and that was the last time a saw her. Two minutes later the receptionist came around and asked me to leave, I told her I just want to see Dr B to get some Valium, she told me the doctor doesn’t want to see you and this surgery doesn’t prescribe Valium. She said If I had a problem, write a complaint.

I went back outside pacing up and down and decided I would write a complaint letter, I went home and wrote the letter which included the facebook address of my dead friend and my post to him which I had left that morning before going to the doctors. I went back to the doctors with my letter, I wanted her to go on line and look at it so she could see that I was not making this up.

I was asked to wait in reception and she would see me, 20 minutes later the police walked in and told me that she has made a complaint about me being aggressive and that she is not going to see me. The police had the new video and audio cameras recording everything that went on, I have to say they were the nicest police I have ever met, If they didn’t have the video cameras I would have certainly have been arrested. I told them im not leaving so arrest me but they defused the situation and I left peacefully with an appointment to see a different doctor.
However I am still angry at the way Dr B treated me, and her outright lie to the police about me being aggressive. I asked the receptionist if she had ever seen me be aggressive and she replied no.
i want to add that I have never had valium prescribed to me before or any other drug for that matter from my doctors and that I hardly ever visit the doctor. i want to book an appointment with her so she can read my compliant letter and visit my dead friends facebook page and apologise to me. Am I being unreasonable to the cow?

OP posts:
MamaPain · 14/05/2014 23:28

I think you were being unreasonable. However on one level your unreasonable behaviour is understandable because of the stress you are under. I'm sure that you have enough insight to recognise if you are at such a point in your life where you are demanding valium from doctors then you may also be at a point where you are behaving unreasonably without realising it or how your behaviour may be perceived by others.

There is being directly aggressive such as shouting at someone and there is being aggressive in your approach which seems to describe todays behaviour. You were very persistent and clearly not taking no for an answer. I think the doctor was right to feel you were aggressive. Also you don't know exactly how she worded it.

What the doctor said to you is very bad on her part, but your response has been disproportionate. Wandering up and down the road, the Facebook postings and the demands for drugs make you sound chaotic and difficult. The doctor probably has to deal with many unpredictable and unstable people so errs on the side of caution.

Also if the receptionist said they don't prescribe valium it seems highly unlikely you were going to actually get valium.

WooWooOwl · 14/05/2014 23:29

MNHQ managed to delete it incredibly quickly. I thought I was about to be one of the first to comment before reporting, but by the time I pressed 'post' it had already been zapped.

AnyFucker · 14/05/2014 23:31

I am surprised to still see the thread here at all then, and would be rather gobsmacked if OP still had posting rights on Mumsnet.

Wooodpecker · 14/05/2014 23:31

Judging by the OP's post she/he are in a bad way at the moment. Please bear this in mind before posting replies.

helensburgh · 14/05/2014 23:32

I reall feel for you. I hope youngest some much need help

AnyFucker · 14/05/2014 23:32

OP asked for comments on AIBU. She is getting replies that are appropriate.

SpamTroll · 14/05/2014 23:32

You don't sound at all reasonable. Posting her name on here was very ill judged.

If it's gong to end up as your word against hers I don't think there would be much point in complaining.

I would change surgeries and forget about this.

EasyCube · 14/05/2014 23:33

I don't think it's valium that you need however I can understand if you are in distress and desperate why you would ask for it.

Did you broach the idea of anti-depressants with Dr B?

You unwittingly have come over as someone trying to 'get' valium which can often be associated with drug addicts.

It does sound like this Dr has jumped to conclusions and yes you should complain but don't make an appointment with her and except an apologise just now.

See a different Dr and concentrate on obtaining the help you need. That is what is important.

Good Luck Flowers

PacificDogwood · 14/05/2014 23:33

I suspect that there is some furious checking going on in the background just now.

I agree that the OP sounds like she needs help, but she sounds like she needs the kind of help that involves taking responsibility for her own actions and not pills of any kind.

somedizzywhore1804 · 14/05/2014 23:34

I have gone to my doctor and asked for temazepam in the past- both for anxiety and for back problems but have only known to ask for it because I've been prescribed it before and know it works. I don't think you were wrong to suggest it as a possible choice of drug to your doctor in principle ....However I'm confused as you say you've never had it before. I also think because of it's addictive nature and use as a street drug by some you need to be careful about HOW you ask for it from a doctor. If I have ever requested it I have always stressed that I understand the possible side effects and it's addictive quality and explain why I feel I need it and that I am happy to be monitored and to take it in the way and for the length of time that the doctor sees fit.

However the rest of the story is kind of loopy, OP. In the doctors shoes I would probably have called the police too as your behaviour seems erratic. If the comments about housing are true then they're completely out of order and you must complain.... However otherwise I think you need to get some outside help as your behaviour sounds to be verging on dangerous and certainly antisocial.

Do you have any friends or family members that you can turn to for support?

ChelsyHandy · 14/05/2014 23:35

i want to book an appointment with her so she can read my compliant letter and visit my dead friends facebook page and apologise to me.

You sound obsessed. I think you need to have a think about how you come across to other people. If you can.

Your view of the world sounds a bit distorted. How do you think the patient whose appointment was interrupted by you felt?

We all get annoyed at times but the quality of the person is shown by how you deal with it. Try to act well in situations even if you're annoyed.

BrianTheMole · 14/05/2014 23:41

I agree with woodpecker. Bearing in mind the op is clearly under considerable stress, it would be appropriate to post more helpful replies or not post at all, even if this is aibu.
Op, I'm sorry about your friend. When will you be seeing the other doctor?

BobPatandIgglePiggle · 14/05/2014 23:42

The housing comment (if true) was out of order. Nothing else the Dr did was imho

You can't demand meds
A doctor will not look anything up on FB - that was a ridiculous request
You cannot enter their room without an appointment - what if they'd had another patient in there?

You need to let this go - you are going to end up in a situation where no dr will want to see you without an escort.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 14/05/2014 23:48

Do not demand an apology, it won't help. I think it will make things worse. Yes you need help but this isn't to way to go about things.

tennor · 14/05/2014 23:48

4 years ago i got stressed, couldn't sleep for 2 days, a friend of mine went to the doctor and got 10 valium for himself which they gave him no problem. he gave them to me i took 1 pill got some sleep and felt much better, i gave the rest back to him. thats the only time i have ever taken valium, im 43 years old and not addicted to any drug, my friend has been addicted to alcohol, heroin, crack, valium. i know what Valium does. i dont see whats wrong with asking for something. i can go for a drink and not become an alcoholic, in the same way that i can take valium and not become addicted to it. drug addicts seem to have something wrong with them where they just cant stop.

OP posts:
UncleT · 14/05/2014 23:49

Look, bad times or not (had many myself), not engaging in behaviour that could land her in serious trouble and not demanding valium is VERY sound advice.

PrincessBabyCat · 14/05/2014 23:49

A doctor cannot just prescribe a drug on a patient's demand. It's irresponsible and they could lose their licence.

You went in demanding a drug, then continued to harass the doctor after she said no. Continuing to come in and demand a drug after you were told no can come across as looking aggressive. Drug addicts can get dangerous, the doctor was right to call the police especially since you were acting erratically as you were.

What do you want her to apologize for? She did nothing wrong besides make an inappropriate comment. Even if she knew your friend died, it still wouldn't justify her giving you drugs on demand. Keep in mind that even though you are stressed, people get through deaths without needing drugs all the time. It'll just look like you're insisting on her giving you drugs still.

Go to a different doctor, get the medication they prescribe for you. You want the meds with long term effects anyway, not quick fixes. Quick fix drugs can be addictive and nasty side effects when you stop taking them. Long acting ones you can wean off when you want to stop and it'll reduce bad side effects of quitting.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 14/05/2014 23:51

OP you aren't going to get anywhere by asking for specific drugs. The MH team recommended an anti depressant, did you discuss this with the dr?

iK8 · 14/05/2014 23:54

Look, you clearly need help and from someone much better placed to give it then some randoms on the internet. You've taken the first step to getting help and while things have got a bit messy you can't give up now.

Make an appointment with another doctor, take your referral letter and explain that you need help. Then listen to what the doctor says and make an informed decision about what to do next.

Do not contact the other doctor again.

Canthisonebeused · 14/05/2014 23:58

I think posters and MN should keep in mind the OP is quite possibly very emaitionaly vulnerable just now and on account of the stress described maybe not acting with the same integrity if she were well.

OP I think you should call back the psychological helpline again as soon as is possible and explain to them what happened with the doctor and how you behaved as this type of behaviour you describe is a cause for concern and makes me think you are experiencing some kind of crisis.

The doctor did not treat you with the dignity and respect you deserved at such a difficult time for you and thier actions seems to have exasperated the whole situation for you. I hope you get the best possible help and support you deserve and need. But honestly you will not get that on MN AIBU board, please talk to someone again at the psychological therapy service.

EasyCube · 15/05/2014 00:02

have you get anyone with you tonight tennor

It's horrible to feel they way you are feeling.

Have you got children?

EasyCube · 15/05/2014 00:08

just wanted to add that it is highly unlikely your mate got prescriped the valium of the doctor. My neighbour was just like your friend , addicted to all sorts , and he could get his hands on valium but they did not come from a prescription. Hope he did charge you for it Sad

Wooodpecker · 15/05/2014 00:12

Agree Canthisonebeused.

tennor · 15/05/2014 00:38

she had an email on her screen from my MH team, she asked me if they had sent me a copy, i only looked at the first few lines which said that they felt i was a danger to myself and to the general public. i told her no i hadn't received a copy and she closed the page so i couldn't read any more. i feel sending me out of there stressed and angry with no medication was wrong. the police said i looked calm and relaxed, they dont seem to get me.
my friend got the Valium from the doctor, i no for sure.

OP posts:
BrianTheMole · 15/05/2014 00:41

Thats not good Tennor. You need to get back to that other appointment soon. You look after yourself in the meantime.