Can an er refuse narcotic treatment for pain? i have chronic stomach issues. have even gone to a pain clinic and they have done everything they can for me. when i have a bad flare up and my meds don't work, i need to go to the hospital, even though someti

It : It is the treating physician's decision as to what are the pro's and con's are to treating a specific patient with specific narcotics. This could be impacted by hospital policy or by input from a team that follows / tracks patients that require high use of narcotics. Even if you have note from a doctor stating you can go to an er twice a month for narcotics; it is still the doctor at the er who sees you, who has to use their medical judgment. If strong medications from a pain clinic are not working, the er physician may have a dilemna about treating with the same or similar medications. If you are on a pain contract, that can complicate things further.

Medical management: Yes, the er physician decides the course of action and management of the patient. It isnt a matter of rights. It is a clinical decision. If the physician presumes that you are a drug seeker, they will deny you narcotics. If your pain dr has done everything for you, the er isnt the place to go for acute care.Hospitalisation/changing your pain dr. Is the alternative.

Yup.: An er doc can and should decline to prescribe any medication that s/he feels might not be appropriate. Chronic pain, by definition, is not new or emergent and ideally should not be treated in the emergency room, where the docs don't have an ongoing relationship with the patients. You need to work with your doctor, who knows you, to have a plan for your "flare ups" to keep you out of the er!