I signed up for MDVIP with Dr. Galbraith because I was looking for the kind of attentive and…read morepersonalized care that concierge medicine is supposed to provide. Initially, I was very happy with the experience, but unfortunately that changed dramatically.
Before becoming his patient, I had previously been prescribed opioids by another physician and developed a physical dependency. I had successfully tapered off of them with the help of another doctor. I was completely transparent with Dr. Galbraith about this history.
After evaluating me for ongoing pain, Dr. Galbraith prescribed opioids again. I specifically told him that because of my previous dependency, I did not want to be on them long term. However, I was comfortable using them temporarily while we figured out the cause of my pain, particularly because I had been instructed by a treating physician not to take NSAIDs following stomach surgery.
Dr. Galbraith referred me for an X-ray and to a chiropractor. I made the appointments, but both were about an hour and a half away from me. As a busy mother of three, things would pop up and I had to reschedule them a couple of times , needing a refill of my prescription in the meantime.
Then I unexpectedly experienced a severe depressive episode and needed to enter a residential mental health treatment program. On my way there, I contacted Dr. Galbraith's office because I didn't know whether I would be allowed to leave the residential program for my upcoming appointments, which I ultimately had to cancel. I explained the entire situation.
Chantelle called me back and told me that I was abusing the medication and that there were other options besides controlled medication, including NSAIDs. I explained again that NSAIDs cause significant stomach problems for me and that I had been advised by another treating physician not to take them. She told me that I should be fine to take them, which seemed extremely inappropriate, as she is not a doctor. I felt completely dismissed.
What was even more upsetting was being told by Chantelle that she was "on my side" because, according to her, Dr. Galbraith wanted to release me from his practice. I was never able to speak directly with Dr. Galbraith to confirm this or discuss what was happening.
I want to be very clear: my complaint is not that a physician should be required to continue prescribing opioids indefinitely. My concern is how this situation was handled.
Dr. Galbraith knew about my previous physical dependency before prescribing opioids to me again. I had specifically told him I did not want to become dependent on them long term. I had gotten one refill from him when he apparently decided that he would no longer be prescribing them to me. I would have expected a conversation and a medically appropriate plan for discontinuing them; not an abrupt cutoff communicated through a staff member while I was entering residential treatment for severe depression.
The result was that I was left with severe pain and no medication after my body had again become physically dependent on it, rather than being given a tapering plan or an opportunity to speak directly with the physician who prescribed it. Instead, they sent in an NSAID, knowing full well that I cannot take those.
The entire interaction felt accusatory, dismissive, and profoundly lacking in compassion at an extremely vulnerable time in my life. That was particularly disappointing considering I was paying a substantial additional fee for MDVIP specifically because I wanted more accessible, personalized, and coordinated care.
I understand that controlled medications require caution and that physicians have every right to reconsider whether they are appropriate. What I don't understand is prescribing them to a patient after being fully informed of a previous dependency, and then handling concerns in this manner rather than communicating directly with the patient and developing a safe transition plan.
Unfortunately, this experience changed my opinion of the practice, so much so, that I felt it necessary to write this to warn others.
