I am a pharmacist and have to do this daily. Today I had a pt who was severely allergic to codeine (according to spouse). Pt. was prescribed hydrocodone, and had never had it before (Hydrocodone is the generic name for Vicodin and Lortab, and is a derivative of codeine). I called the hospital where the Dr. was to try to verify the allergy (maybe pt. had Vicodin in the hospital, I don’t know). I reached an automated service that led me to page the Dr. who was on call for the physician who prescribed the Vicodin rx. That physician called back in about 5 minutes, huffin’ and a’puffin about being paged. He said that he was not on call for the other doc. I said, “fine, but your automated voice mail said you were”. “Oh, harrumph, I am never on call for that physician, you are a dummy” (slight exag). He then asked what I was calling for, and I told him. His response was "Well, first of all (you dumb pharmacist asshole who is wasting my time), “Vicodin and codeine are two completely different things.” Sorry, I said, just doing my job (BTW, hydrocodone is a derivative of codeine, and if you are allergic to one, you might be allergic to the other). “Why are you even calling me?” he says. Your voice mail led me to you, I say. “I guess there is a problem then” and promptly hangs up. I get a call 10 minutes later from the prescribing doc who changes the Vicodin rx to Darvocet (which is not a derivative of codeine). I ask him if he thinks that a severe codeine allergy would stop him from prescribing Vicodin to a pt. in that situation, and he says, of course, yes. I then tell him what his partner said to me, and he was so apologetic. You know what? I could have very easily dispensed this rx with the first dr’s name and DEA number, plus proof that I had called to check on this interaction (I paged him twice, I am sure the phone company would have had records). That patient may or may not have been allergic to the Vicodin, but if he was, he may have died. I have just saved a malpractice suit against me, the prescribing Dr., as well as the on- call Dr. I feel like shit, though, because of that condescending asshole.
Christ, I hate it when people treat you like shit for saving them trouble. It happens more often than you’d think, too.
People like that aren’t worth getting your shorts in a wad over. Besides, now he looks like an asshole to his partner. Don’t sweat it, you did good. 
Oh, and BTW, when I talked to this pt. later, it turns out that he had had Vicoprofen (which contains hydrocodone) before, and had severe bronchospasms and could barely breathe after taking this med. Sorry for trying to help!!
You did your job, did it well and dilligently, and may have saved an innocent party from a spectrum of horror that could have ranged from an unpleasant trip to the hospital to death.
You also had to put up with an asshole of an MD.
I know the treatment you received at the hands of the jerk doctor must have rankled, but you helped somebody when you could very easily have shrugged your shoulders and passed the blame to someone else. You refused to do that.
Take satisfaction in the fact that you protected somebody and did the job you were proffessionally trained to do properly.
Shrug off the jerk. He won’t be the last.
You have absolutely no reason to feel like shit.
You’ve proved several things – first that you are competent and ethical in your chosen profession. That isn’t always the case.
Second, you care enough about your patients to take the extra steps necessary to insure that they receive proper care; and
Third (and most important!) you learned that you are not an asshole like the condescending and abusive jerk you talked to first. Of course, all three are closely related.
So, don’t feel bad. You’ve proved yourself superior to at least one person today, both as a human being and as a health care provider.
Of course, if you’re just determined to feel shitty about something, you could always fume about the fact that a waste of skin like Doctor #1 is allowed to practice medecine and thereby interact with (and greatly affect the lives and death of) the public at large. Thank goodness everybody isn’t like him!
Yeah, don’t feel bad, feel good! You recognized the problem, and dealt with it properly, the bad Dr. is going to look like an ass to his partner, and chances are not for the first time, while you look good, and more importantly, know that you did the right thing. What more can you ask for? (other than some praise and professional respect, but we can’t have it all right?)
Thanks for all the support. I guess I was just rantin’. I know that ER docs are under a whole lotta pressure and don’t need any extra criticicism (i.e. pointing out stuff). But I am in the unique position of helping out these guys, and am not very appreciative when they turn on me. Kspharm
Report the incompetent doctor.
I second everything Exgineer said. Good advice.
You did the right thing all around, and the doctor is an ingrate.
I’m allergic to sulfas. They give me horrible hives.
I’m guessing the patient didn’t know what Vicodin was, because whenever I’m prescribed anything, I make damn sure it’s not a sulfa. An optometrist nearly gave me sulfa eye drops once…egad, I don’t want to THINK about it. If you have any drug allergies, always always always let the docs know.
You did the right thing and the doc was being a dick.
You know, if you don’t want to get called in the middle of the night - DON’T BECOME A DOCTOR! Or at least pick a speciality that doesn’t involve a lot of call (I hear dermatology is good - few people call because they need a pimple popped in the middle of the night).
At least Dr. #2 was apologetic for the behavior of Doctor #1.
I second that. Who knows what else that poor excuse for a doc has done? Or should have done but didn’t? This may not be the first time a patient nearly died because of his inattention.
Gee, kspharm, I know JUST how you feel. Last week I was trying to clarify a warfarin dose (pt had just been prescribed fluconazole) trying to prevent a bleed. The question was whether a one-time dose of warfarin had already been given. The order sent to us was marked “done”. The asshole nurse said that he didn’t think it had been given yet, but he wanted it, and I sure didn’t want to double a dose with a drug interaction going on at the same time. Memorable quote from the idiot nurse:
“Why don’t you stop arguing with me, and just send what the doctor ordered?!”
Putz. I could go on and on and on. This is the genius who faxed me an order, and when I called to clarify something, said, “But that part’s in RED!” Duh, not on my copy, you pinhead!
Grrrr. That type pisses me off no end. I’m TRYING to help the PATIENT, you peabrain…
BTW, nice job catching that allergy. -Theobroma, RPh
Don’t feel like shit. You may have just saved someone’s life. Not a lot of people can say that. Forget about Dr. Asshole, M.D.
Doctors depend very heavily on pharmacists, and doctors who do not listen to them end up in trouble sooner or later. I think you’re problem will take care of itself eventually.
I can spell “your”. Honest.
The is the second time you’ve given this dubious advice. How are you defining incompetence? There is a difference between being rude and ungrateful (this thread) or making a probably correct diagnosis but not doing what the patient wants (another thread). By all means complain about the doctor if you are so inclined, but given you are a lawyer, your advice is somewhat disturbing. In neither case does either complaint amount to a hill of beans in the big picture, and I sympathize strongly with both the complainers. I was wondering if you have any explanation for the number of spurious lawsuits and high cost of American malpractice insurance?
This is why, whenever I move, I always ask a Pharmacist for a recommendation on a good local doctor. They know the good ones and the ones to avoid like the plague.
Bravo!
Dr. Paprika, thank you for pointing that out. Most doc’s feel the same way you do, and I am friends with many an M.D. Pharmacists exist to double check what the physician has ordered. They are there to be a last check before the med goes out to the patient. We can be an annoyance sometimes, especially when pt X has had this rx many times before but we still feel the need to call and verify. (Honestly though, many of us don’t have full rx records for our patients and rely on the physician’s office for that).
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Originally posted by Dr_Paprika *
**
The is the second time you’ve given this dubious advice. How are you defining incompetence? There is a difference between being rude and ungrateful (this thread) or making a probably correct diagnosis but not doing what the patient wants (another thread). By all means complain about the doctor if you are so inclined, but given you are a lawyer, your advice is somewhat disturbing. In neither case does either complaint amount to a hill of beans in the big picture, and I sympathize strongly with both the complainers. I was wondering if you have any explanation for the number of spurious lawsuits and high cost of American malpractice insurance? **
[/QUOTE]
I would never report a doc unless he/she has been malicious and/or severely incompetent in their intent. The physician in the OP was rude and arrogant, but he didn’t deserve to be reported or sued (but I think the 'Pit may be even more harsh 
Spurious lawsuits suck. The company I work for, and I, were sued last year for giving a pt an rx for the correct medication, but the manufacturer listed on the label was different. He was offered an apology, a refund, as well as a gift certificate, but declined all and decided to sue. I really, really hope he loses his shirt on this suit (minor hijack).
With both of the examples at hand, the doctors did not have the qualities requisite for effective conduct. That is incompetence, and should be addressed with a view to avoiding repetition.
Reporting a doctor (or any professional for that matter) for incompetence does not equal a malpractice action. You are jumping the gun with your implication.
At the least, what reporting an incompetent person to his or her professional associtation should accomplish is send a strong message to that person to pick up his or her socks, rather than continue unchecked, and at most may put a corrective process into play.
You want to know a good way of keeping malpractice insurance rates down? Report incompetent doctors to get them dealing with their problems, rather than let them slide along until they hurt someone and land up being sued.