This is a real dilemma for a physician when a patient repeatedly asks for something for pain prior to the scheduled dosing interval and is often seen moaning and complaining no relief from pain. The physician is concerned about using an opioid of greater potency or administering opioids more frequently because the patient admitted to a history of poly-drug abuse, if not in recent past. How to distinguish if the patient is opioid addict or not?
This article gives a standard checklist to evaluate the same. The most common fears that come up in the mind of an attending physician are as follows: Fear of making the patient an addict Fear of loss of control as the health care provider ; fear of being duped Fear of malpractice--if patient sues you for making him an addict Fear of regulatory review Fear of respiratory depressions, Common example of guilt from healthcare staff “ I gave the last…
