It is my hypothesis that the vast majority of the Veterans living on the streets are suffering from drug addictions facilitated by the VA System. As one very familiar with VA Hospitals and Clinics, I can testify that the opioids have been handed out like candy. It’s cheap and easy treatment -— the Veteran feels better and goes away for a while. I have personally been handed bottles of hundreds of controlled substance pills that I refused and returned to the pharmacy -— to the utter shock of the pharmacists who couldn’t believe that I didn’t want them. What starts out as a few pain pills can become a lifelong “monkey” far too easily. As the monkey grows, the legal pills are not enough, so the “medical addict” goes to the street -— where he will live his addiction alone.
And then the medical community started teaching doctors and nurses that pain is the fifth vital sign".
Then the government took over the healthcare system.
Now, what I want to know is to what extent is a hospital's Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement tied to the patient's satisfaction with his/her pain control.
And can a patient sue a doctor/nurse/hospital for inadequate pain management despite a pattern of addictive behaviors.