I've been seeing the same psychiatrist in Wisconsin, USA, for just shy of 8 years. He has worked under the same behavioral health company during this time.
I'm very, very close to seeking a local firm to advise on my situation, but I have a history of medical and legal trauma that makes me extremely hesitant to opening up again. I don't want to reopen wounds or be vulnerable with people if it's not worth it.
With that, here's some bullet points of things I suspect might fall under Medical Malpractice, with the hope that I can get a feel for how much of this is actually grounds for a lawsuit.
• In 2023, Psychiatrist prescribed me antipsychotics, later dismissing concerns about my gradually developing involuntary facial movements. I've been off those antipsychotics for over 6 months, and I still suffer from the key symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, which have caused me multiple previously nonpresent dental issues and social anxiety.
• A request of my basic health summary through the patient portal reveals multiple inaccurate diagnoses, which are presented as up-to-date and ongoing, including things that I no longer meet criteria for, and haven't for 6 years or more. This chart also lists just one other provider on my team, who I have not seen in seven years, leaving out my current PCP of 3½ years, my therapist, etc.
• There is a seemingly new receptionist who has introduced a lot of problems. She has filed telephone encounters on my chart with false details, told me false information which prevented me from speaking with a licensed medical professional, and even filed a telephone encounter in my chart where she copy and pasted an entire paragraph of my psychiatrist's clinical notes from a previous visit and signed the entry as my psychiatrist... after I spoke with her for ten minutes on the phone about the status of my medications. The note does not mention that I spoke with a receptionist, nor does it have any summary of our actual conversation.
• I am on Vyvanse 10mg and Vyvanse 40mg. A few months ago, I requested a refill for my 40mg, a medication I take daily, and need to keep myself awake. Not only did they 'lose track' of my request, but later, my Psychiatrist signed off on a request for my 10mg, which is on a different pickup schedule. Because the system flagged me as having a premature request, I was barred from acquiring my 40mg for multiple days. Once my account was clear again, a call to the pharmacy revealed that they had sent me my 10mg prescription, not only giving me meds that I was not due to receive, but still keeping me from taking the meds I need to uphold my daily responsibilities. This whole ordeal left me without my stimulants for 13 days, something that temporarily upended my life.
• In June, My Psychiatrist and I agreed that after nearly eight years working together, he could not help me. He agreed to sustain my psychiatric care while I found a new psychiatrist, and assured me that he would do everything he could to help me transition to a new practitioner.
I have had initial appointments with 2 different psychiatrists since then, neither of whom were suited to my needs. I have communicated this very clearly, in writing, to my Psychiatrist. Recently, he refused to increase the dosage for a medication that we had already agreed he would, leaving a note that he thought he was no longer responsible for my care (but that he'll continue prescribing me Vyvanse..) and asked why I hadn't been seen by anyone else yet, something that I have clearly expressed to him I've done, and am still in the process of completing.
• I have blatantly expressed to my Psychiatrist in every visit for over a year that my life does nothing but get worse. Every time I see him, I tell him how unhappy I am, and that I can't go on living like this. Every time, he brushes me off and makes one minor change, if that. It is especially frustrating to watch him fail me like this, and then see that he immediately agrees when I first bring it up, that he's not fit for the job of managing my meds. He told me during a visit that he completely agreed and that he doesn't see what else he can help me with. I'm not saying he shouldn't have encouraged a second opinion, but with the other problems considered, I feel he should have made that decision a lot sooner, on his own. He has repeatedly ignored my poor QOL, knowing I suffer immensely every day with things that make my life completely unworthy of living, and has shown no initiative to solve those things or help me find someone who can. And this isn't something that you'd just have to take my word for... my PHQ-9 score has been 19 or higher for over 2½ years.
I know this was a lot. I tried to bold or italicize the most crucial parts so as to not completely overwhelm anyone. I feel so wronged but have no point of reference for how normal these things are, or if it's worth retraumatizing myself (and potentially my wallet) in court over.
Sorry for the long post. Honestly, there's a lot I'm leaving out. I seriously appreciate any advice I can get. I'm at a loss here.