Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander

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#877060 - 04/17/09 08:04 PM Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander
nitemoon GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/01/04 Posts: 1445 Loc: AL	Hey guys. I don't know what to do. I used Dr. Freidlander a few times over the years. Today I get a certified letter in the mail from the Florida Department of Health. Here is what it says: Board of Medicine v. Jeffrey Friedlander, MD DOH Reference # ME 2008-10009 Dear Ms. XXXXX The Department of Health is reviewing the health care provided by Jeffrey Friedlander, MD. We would like to look at your medical records from his office as part of this review. Please sign the enclosed release form to give us premission to look at your medical records. This form must be signed by a witness or Notary. If you are the patient's legal representative. guardian or estate executor, please provide copies of the supporting legal documents. Your medical records will remain confidential and will only be used by the Department of Health. You have the right to remain informed of the status of the investigation. If you wish, we will mail you periodic updates. Would you like to be kept informed of the status of the investigation? Yes____ No_____ Return this letter with the release form to my attention at the address below. We will send you no further information regarding this matter unless you reply to this letter. The Division of Medical Quality Assurance is to promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida. If you have any questions, please call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx. Sincerly, Medical Malpractice Investigator The form that is enclosed in pretty much a standard HIPPA release. So I assume that if I sign it, it won't just the the FL Dept of Health that will be able to view my medical records. Has anyone else gotten one of these? Should I just trash it or what? I have never gotten anything like this before. _________________________ Cant I take away all this pain. (you wanna see the light) I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
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#877062 - 04/17/09 08:09 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
SoHoTribeca GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 05/20/06 Posts: 2529	I wouldn't sign that or even acknowledge that I received it. _________________________ Sweet dreams are made of this, Everybody's looking for something -Annie Lennox
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#877068 - 04/17/09 08:25 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: SoHoTribeca]
nitemoon GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/01/04 Posts: 1445 Loc: AL	I signed for it, so they know that I received it. I had no clue what it was until I opened it. I will probably just ignore it. I assume that they can get a warrant if they want to read them that badly. _________________________ Cant I take away all this pain. (you wanna see the light) I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
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#877070 - 04/17/09 08:32 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
stevo1 GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 08/08/06 Posts: 2747 Loc: Top of The World!	signing for it is one thing ...Releasing your records to them, is another ....You have the right to NOT release the records to them!!!!....I suggest you Not respond .....If they really want your records they will subpoena you! _________________________ I Need to Stare into my Avatar and Relax!
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#877073 - 04/17/09 08:51 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: stevo1]
travelman Enthusiast Registered: 11/19/08 Posts: 203 Loc: Darkest depths of Mordor	unless u wanna get dragged into the prosecutions case i agree that u just dont respond
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#877077 - 04/17/09 08:54 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: travelman]
nitemoon GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/01/04 Posts: 1445 Loc: AL	I am not going to respond. I guess they can try to drag me down to Florida if they want to. _________________________ Cant I take away all this pain. (you wanna see the light) I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
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#877079 - 04/17/09 08:55 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
NiceGuy Veteran Registered: 12/05/08 Posts: 637 Loc: Up the Creek	Ignore It !! They will probably break the law and look at your records anyway. If you sign and go along with them, there is a chance you could be supeaned to go and testify in this mess. You are in a different state, right ? They may have no authority over you if it's Florida cops and not Feds ? Just wait and see or better yet, ASK A GOOD LAWYER in your state, and fast. Good Luck !
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#877087 - 04/17/09 09:10 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: NiceGuy]
nitemoon GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/01/04 Posts: 1445 Loc: AL	I live in Alabama. I have an attorney. I guess I will ask him about it. At this point, I assume that it is not a criminal investigation (I might be wrong). It looks like they are trying to get enough evidence to pull his license. _________________________ Cant I take away all this pain. (you wanna see the light) I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
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#877096 - 04/17/09 09:32 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
Gerbil Journeyman Registered: 02/24/09 Posts: 69	It's a good idea that you don't sign it. They can not look at or use your records without your consent. The letter reads, as you wrote it, they will not contact you any further if you do not sign it.
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#877106 - 04/17/09 09:59 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: Gerbil]
mmyp GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 02/20/06 Posts: 2442 Loc: neither here nor there	I agree Nitemoon. I got called by an investigator about "Wally" from ushealth. Nothing ever came of it. Just said no thanks. I didn't want to talk to them. No call backs as I remember it. It did scare the .... out of me so I sort of feel your pain. I used to have a different login name and had it and all my stuff removed from this board. z deleted my hard drive etc. Came back later to this board under this username. Edited by mmyp (04/17/09 10:01 PM) _________________________ Best wishes as always
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#877120 - 04/17/09 10:30 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: mmyp]
fashana Board Addict Registered: 02/21/07 Posts: 331 Loc: Washington	Nitemoon, The letter you received is polite compared to the letters sent out from the CA department of Health while investigating A Garcia. CA stated clearly sign or we will get a supeana. I wouldn't sign it,but don't be surprised if you get another letter. CA department of health has a really good web-site, all Rules and regs spelled out easy to read and understand. You should check out FL web-site and see what it says about they can and can't do. I find really interesting about this is, If you haven't used him in a while. Why didn't he get rid of your records or delete them? I don't think the investigators have had his computers long enough,to be getting to stuff left on the hard drive. I hate say it, but we will probably be seeing a lot more of this kind of thing. The which hunt is on
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#877136 - 04/17/09 11:30 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: fashana]
nitemoon GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/01/04 Posts: 1445 Loc: AL	I actually used them one last time after ConsultsDirect's doctor stopped writing certain scripts. The site that Dr. F. was working for was really good, but Dr. F. was not real big on prescribing benzos. He would only give me 2mgs a day of xanax even though my medical records stated that I had been getting a total of 4mgs a day. When I used them for the last time (mid-March), I got one script with 0 refills. I was actually considering going to FL to do a F2F with them. Glad I didn't book that flight. My medical records are good, and I wouldn't really mind them looking at them. I am more concerned that they may contact my PCP. I do not want to ruin that relationship. _________________________ Cant I take away all this pain. (you wanna see the light) I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
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#877177 - 04/18/09 02:32 AM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: mmyp]
PoPo GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 02/20/04 Posts: 1880	I wouldn't sign it. I get so tired of seeing us loose our privacy. I don't know for sure, but if they want it bad enough, they'll look at it whether you give them your consent or not. We, the regular citizens are the only ones that have to follow the laws. I say it's none of their damn business.
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#877258 - 04/18/09 11:11 AM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: fashana]
Gerbil Journeyman Registered: 02/24/09 Posts: 69	Originally Posted By: fashana Why didn't he get rid of your records or delete them? It is illegal for doctors to destroy records. A certain amount of years must pass since a patient is last seen before the records can be destroyed.
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#877329 - 04/18/09 03:04 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
tryagain Newbie Registered: 04/30/08 Posts: 27	Did they really spell permission incorrectly? It is amazing that medical records are supposed to be private, but once a supposed legal matter comes into play privacy goes out the door. Very sad! Keep us posted on what transpires.
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#877333 - 04/18/09 03:17 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
amyboutique Stranger Registered: 05/29/08 Posts: 2	My suggestion to you is not to get involved. I would just hang on to the letter and not reply if it were me. What has probably happened is this agency has gotten all of this doctor's records for investigation purposes and wants to get as many people as possible to convict.
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#877479 - 04/18/09 10:44 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: amyboutique]
jkn8 Newbie Registered: 04/15/09 Posts: 46	Originally Posted By: amyboutique My suggestion to you is not to get involved. I would just hang on to the letter and not reply if it were me. What has probably happened is this agency has gotten all of this doctor's records for investigation purposes and wants to get as many people as possible to convict. Do you mean go on a meaningless, costly witch hunt against the patients? Or more evidence to try and build a case to convict Friedlander?
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#877509 - 04/19/09 12:14 AM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: jkn8]
EMJ Enthusiast Registered: 12/20/01 Posts: 286 Loc: Southeast US	Probably to build a case against the doctor. My advice is not to sign anything, anywhere, anyhow! _________________________ When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.
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#877675 - 04/19/09 01:17 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
SallyCShells Veteran Registered: 04/18/06 Posts: 501	Nitemoon, wow! GULP! I know this is probably causing you a lot of grief right now. Down in the Sunshine State, we have had watch poor Doc Friedlander and company be hauled off and arrested by LE. They physically came in and took one of his associate's off in handcuffs at the Pain Clinic in Lakeland. The doctor was all tattooed up both arms with a coat over his head. Now, nothing against tattoos, I just found the whole thing kind of surreal. Anyway, the investigation thus far seems to be all about the Pain Clinics operating in many cities in Florida and how he and his fellow doc's have been ALLEGEDLY distributing and dispensing controlled substances without a valid medical purpose. They are also ALLEGEDLY accused of giving out blank scripts too. Nitemoon...I would not respond if you are not in-state. If they keep on hassling you, you may need to down the road, but the investigation is actually about the Pain Clinics in Fl, not the involvement you had with him. I won't elaborate more for obvious reasons, however, they obviously have those records too. Here's a link to the video of the doctor getting arrested with the coat on his head at the Pain Clinic and the media talking about how patients can get their records <--sarcasm! $\:\/$ http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/...S-SlbKD4Hw.cspx
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#877687 - 04/19/09 01:52 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: SallyCShells]
backpain008 Stranger Registered: 09/14/08 Posts: 10	Another media screw up. I have seen the dr in person and that is not even who they say it is. The dr they are asking with the coat over his head, "Do you have any comments" is not Dr Troy. He does not have tattoos like that. My visit was nothing like what they are describing, I was with the dr for a good 45 minutes. ID was taken, a complete history, reviewed all my previous records (which were quite lengthy). He spent alot of time explaining my condition in words I could understand and I left with a better understanding of my condition than any other dr in the past has ever given me. I also left with a very long list of blood work that I am to have done and have the report faxed to the dr which he will then go over with me. I have to say it was the most complete consultation I have ever had before. Dr F quit doing telemeds on Feb 28th so he was well with in the time frame for the new laws going into effect and from what I have heard this is not due to telemeds. He would not budge on it after that date either. I am wondering if they are going to continue to go after physicians that USED to do telemeds? It looks like the DOH in FL needs a spell check, permission and sincerely are both spelled wrong!
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#877716 - 04/19/09 03:44 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: backpain008]
funkybreakz GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 01/24/04 Posts: 2252 Loc: \|20(\|-\|3\|\|35\|\/\|6 1$ 6@`/	Originally Posted By: backpain008 Another media screw up. I have seen the dr in person and that is not even who they say it is. The dr they are asking with the coat over his head, "Do you have any comments" is not Dr Troy. He does not have tattoos like that. My visit was nothing like what they are describing, I was with the dr for a good 45 minutes. ID was taken, a complete history, reviewed all my previous records (which were quite lengthy). He spent alot of time explaining my condition in words I could understand and I left with a better understanding of my condition than any other dr in the past has ever given me. I also left with a very long list of blood work that I am to have done and have the report faxed to the dr which he will then go over with me. I have to say it was the most complete consultation I have ever had before. Dr F quit doing telemeds on Feb 28th so he was well with in the time frame for the new laws going into effect and from what I have heard this is not due to telemeds. He would not budge on it after that date either. I am wondering if they are going to continue to go after physicians that USED to do telemeds? It looks like the DOH in FL needs a spell check, permission and sincerely are both spelled wrong! it is not only docs doing telemed... they are also going after brick and mortar pain docs that don't even know what an online consult is. my doc has been audited 3 times in the last 2 years. big brother wants every doc that has a bit of compassion for cpr's wiped out. it is insane. we might as well be living under a dictatorship. (that enjoys seeing the weak suffer) god forbid someone take a medication that allow them to function properly. maybe i should just go on disability and let the taxpayers pay for me to use up oxygen for the next 40 years. rather than take a medication, get to work, take care of my family and pay into the system _________________________ When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
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#878393 - 04/21/09 12:32 AM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: funkybreakz]
secretword Newbie Registered: 06/05/06 Posts: 30 Loc: Middle TN	I got one of these letters on November 14, 2008, and I never responded to it. I just filed it in my little folder (just in case for future reference), and I ignored it.
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#879496 - 04/23/09 07:18 AM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: secretword]
BACKPAIN24 Board Addict Registered: 11/03/07 Posts: 363	I personally have seen Dr. Troy and Dr. F and they are great. They never "gave out" meds that were not needed. I had to bring in updated records each time. And the above poster is right, Dr. Troy does not have arms covered in tatoos. That is not him. They have helped me with my horrible pain for months now, and now I am freaking out. Who is going to care for me now?? I was told that if I stop taking the meds I am on, I can have horrible issues. I have finally found a great combo of meds that really help me live a normal life. I am so sad to see this happen. What are his patients going to do now? The ones that need the meds for pain and not the ones that are "faking". He always spent like an hour with me on each monthly visit and kept a tight ship as far as my records. He always sent me for MRI's and blood work and made sure I was up to date on everything. He was the best. I hope that these allegations are cleared up and not true. I just don't see him doing things like that. I just think they are cracking down on all previous internet docs. It's not fair for people with NO experience in medical to tell medical professionals how to operate. What are those of us who are in REAL chronic pain supposed to do? The junkies have ruined our chance at healthcare. $\:\($
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#880788 - 04/26/09 02:40 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: BACKPAIN24]
Super400CESN Stranger Registered: 03/06/09 Posts: 12 Loc: Washington DC	Investigators have nothing with out 'the other side' which is anybody that would have received that letter and signed for it. If they did, buckle the seat belt well, you are going for a ride. I used to practice law UP until April 10, 2009 - then got the boot. I was fighting everything I could with my last client for doctor shopping, which to me, he wasn't. Sad story with my client. He retained my services and in the end, I refunded his money and pro-bono'd the service since it pissed me off so bad. I am 48 and seen it all folks. Last 2 years on the front line with doctors and patients. Guys, I am just bewildered what's going on now. Some of the folks I have seen, THEY HAVE NO CHOICE but to 'dr shop' just because of the doctors. They are scared and relentless about anything with the CSA (controlled substance act) Same goes with the pharmacist's - they see it all the time and 90% do not care about dr.shopping. Some of the clients I have had... I am serious, I could write a book. So sad and the extreme measures they have to take just to live! Few I had, if they didn't have a 'norco' pain reliever, they couldn't go to the store to get food. I can't practice with the 2 mile high wall between the people and government. I will work at jack n box... I don't care anymore. Last 2 years - immense legislature has been processed that barricades pain patients, doesn't matter of your age,color,insurance,wealth,poor,medicaid,etc. There is a much bigger picture being painted right now and no one truly knows what it is. I don't, but I see the brush strokes here and there. All I am saying, do what you gotta do. If the dice rolls in your favor-GO. If not, go after it.
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#880789 - 04/26/09 02:46 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: Super400CESN]
mmyp GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 02/20/06 Posts: 2442 Loc: neither here nor there	What happened to your law prcatice? Were you covering clients for these doctors or others? _________________________ Best wishes as always
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#880793 - 04/26/09 03:01 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: Super400CESN]
stevo1 GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 08/08/06 Posts: 2747 Loc: Top of The World!	Originally Posted By: Super400CESN Investigators have nothing with out 'the other side' which is anybody that would have received that letter and signed for it. If they did, buckle the seat belt well, you are going for a ride. I used to practice law UP until April 10, 2009 - then got the boot. I was fighting everything I could with my last client for doctor shopping, which to me, he wasn't. Sad story with my client. He retained my services and in the end, I refunded his money and pro-bono'd the service since it pissed me off so bad. I am 48 and seen it all folks. Last 2 years on the front line with doctors and patients. Guys, I am just bewildered what's going on now. Some of the folks I have seen, THEY HAVE NO CHOICE but to 'dr shop' just because of the doctors. They are scared and relentless about anything with the CSA (controlled substance act) Same goes with the pharmacist's - they see it all the time and 90% do not care about dr.shopping. Some of the clients I have had... I am serious, I could write a book. So sad and the extreme measures they have to take just to live! Few I had, if they didn't have a 'norco' pain reliever, they couldn't go to the store to get food. I can't practice with the 2 mile high wall between the people and government. I will work at jack n box... I don't care anymore. Last 2 years - immense legislature has been processed that barricades pain patients, doesn't matter of your age,color,insurance,wealth,poor,medicaid,etc. There is a much bigger picture being painted right now and no one truly knows what it is. I don't, but I see the brush strokes here and there. All I am saying, do what you gotta do. If the dice rolls in your favor-GO. If not, go after it. Please Fill Me IN! What Happened to you! ....What do you Know? ...I am getting Very Active in this Fight! Stevo _________________________ I Need to Stare into my Avatar and Relax!
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#880816 - 04/26/09 04:24 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: nitemoon]
aliceellen1 Veteran Registered: 06/20/05 Posts: 506 Loc: Florida but always a New Yorke...	Nightmoon, The minute I read this I knew they were just trying to trap you. I am an attorney and live in Florida and the Dept.of Health will take any kind of shortcuts they can get away with. They are a bunch of lazy state employees. If they want the records so bad let them go to the trouble of getting a court order, like everyone else has to do. Your records are protected by HIPPA and without court intervention they have no business to them. I guess they all think that they have to show some sort of official badge and we will all just cave in to what they want. I wouldn't even recognize that I got it. Actually, I would get rid of it so it can never be found again. If they want to build a case against Dr. Friendlander then let THEM do it the proper way. They are counting on you being intimidated. I know that it isn't easy just putting this on the back burner but I would go so far as to say that they have enough idiots that will talk to them without the necessary court documents that they won't even need you. Try to put it in the back of your mind. (Easier said than done.) Dr. Friendlander has an attorney. If they continue this [censored] call him or her. I really wish you the best. Peace, Alice _________________________ The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind. Bob Dylan
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#880845 - 04/26/09 06:28 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: ]
nitemoon GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 12/01/04 Posts: 1445 Loc: AL	I haven't heard anything else, so I am just going to forget about it. I really appreciate all the advice from you guys. I was kind of freaked out the first day. Then I figured, if I was truely in some sort of trouble, they would have shown up in person and not sent a certified letter. I think the whole thing is about Dr. Freidlander pre-signing blank prescriptions, and that the people who worked for him were filling them in without the doctor ever seeing what was being written. _________________________ Cant I take away all this pain. (you wanna see the light) I try to every night, all in vain... in vain.
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#880847 - 04/26/09 06:33 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: mmyp]
Super400CESN Stranger Registered: 03/06/09 Posts: 12 Loc: Washington DC	I was contracted through a nice sized firm that operates out of W.DC,Philly,NYC. After my last case with the client that was suspected of Dr.Shopping (1 script for narcotics from FL, Other from OH) for the same meds, I pleaded with the DA and Judge from my clients point of view. Bottom Line - he was majorly under treated and Dr in OH was not doing anything for him ONLY.... and say ONLY in fear of the DEA in losing his license to be a professional Doctor and render his patient with the care that was needed! This made me so upset that fear rumor of the DEA made the Dr relentless in doing his job. My client came back from Iraq all tore up and fractured his femur bone and ankle had hardware in it. Client was in cructhes with F'ing pins sticking out of his leg. In the end, he had to do 140 hours of community service instead of the DA advising on 4 years in prison. The jury was in tears (so was I) I couldn't handle this perception and vented (rather aggressively) to my partners and was asked to leave with full contract services paid out. I cannot do my job any longer. If you ever have to go to court, jury trial is the way to go, because you are doing with other human beings with integrity and respect, unlike DA's and PA's with out souls. I will apply at Starbucks and be more happy working there or even McDonalds. The court systems are so FXXXk'd up regarding people that live and deal with pain. My last client was in pain physically, emotionally and sincere. Sorry for the vent guys or whoever reads this, but do what you have to do to.
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#880853 - 04/26/09 06:54 PM Re: Certified Letter from FL Department of Health Re. Dr. Freidlander [Re: Super400CESN]
mmyp GRAND Pooh-Bah Registered: 02/20/06 Posts: 2442 Loc: neither here nor there	Sorry to hear about that. Maybe you could be court appointed atty for people who cannot afford it or a place that advocates for vets or chronic pain clients. I do agree our vets are very undertreated. Sounds like nitemoon is putting this behind her. i guess she will post agian if something else comes up. Edited by mmyp (04/26/09 06:55 PM) _________________________ Best wishes as always
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