[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by Carl in Tampa

I can't speak to all of the issues that skyguy79 brings up regarding
Dr. Tafur, but one element is worthy of discussion.

Under current Florida law a doctor cannot prescribe potent painkiller medications for long term use unless he declares himself as a controlled substance prescribing practitioner on his practitioner profile and meets a number of requirements and rules. Skyguy79's history of eight years of painkiller use would make him a long term user. In all likelihood Dr. Tafur has not designated himself a controlling substance prescribing practitioner under Florida law which is why he referred skyguy79 to a pain management clinic.

I had back injuries which required long term painkiller use and Dr. Tafur referred me to the pain clinic which was right next door to his office. I was treated there until back surgery ended the need for the meds.

I normally go to a local Urgent Care Clinic for treatment of unexpected illnesses or injuries. They have a sign on the wall that ONLY Dr. So and So is a designated substance prescribing practitioner; the other doctors at the clinic cannot prescribe painkillers.

On one occasion I went to a different clinic. They had a sign on the wall that said that NONE of their doctors could prescribe painkillers.

There is a similar sign at the entrance to the office of my pulmonologist.

Again, my surmise is that Dr. Tafur has chosen not to designate himself as a designated substance prescribing practitioner. He did not lie to skyguy79. Skyguy79's subsequent doctors probably did designate themselves, so they could prescribe the drugs.

See the link below for a discussion of the Florida Law.

Florida Osteopathic Medical Association

Thanks for the feedback. Perhaps if Dr. Tafur had properly explained what you have instead of simply telling me that neither he nor any other doctor in FL will write the script unless they were pain specialists - without explaining things further, then I might have seen things differently. That in itself wouldn't have changed my mind though about staying with him!