can a dr. refust a dual diagnosed patient (drug additcion and paranoid schiozprania) access to the medication for the mental illness (which is severe) until which time he 'makes a concious deciision' and follows through on giving up the drug addiction? Is this legal? Can this dr. do this and get away with it?
NOTE: This is in the state of Arizona, Maricopa count, which is Phoenix AZ. Patient is severly mentallly ill, over 18 and cant even focus well when on meds. Care provider is called Value Options, previously called Com Care, then changed to ABS (Alt. behavior Services) and then changed again to Value Options. The state/value options pay all medication expenses, but he receives ssi as he is labled un-employable, which he is. Nobody will hire him. Housing is avail. for him but case mgrs. will not provide housing for him because he damaged the last place when not on his medication. He was evicted. Nobody knows where his cloths, jacket, shoes, etc. are and he dont know either, as the voices have them hidden and stolen from him. He is walking the streets now, homeless, and can't get any medication until he chooses to give up drugs and is going down hill fast, and now is unable to function and/or tell reality from illusion as the illness is getting worse without any meds.....What can we do about this? How can we help him, please tell me if this is legal, and if there is any recourse for the family to stop this and get him the meds again.
Ask a lawyer in your own state about your laws. You can always see another psychiatrist, and get a second opinion, if you are not satisfied with your present psychiatrist.