Virginia Beach doctor's license suspended

My husband is/was Dr. Plotnick's patient for 3 years is was a complete nightmare! He made my husband an addict and for 3 years I've been calling this dr. a legalized drug dealer. Now our family has to go thru a detoxing husband/dad!!! thanks Dr. Plotnick

amen! my mother was all drugged up for 4 years as well. he tried the same with me when i was 16 and all i had was a knee problem and a shoulder ache. i pray for all the lives hes been involved in.

This is an updated story from the one originally listed by WAVY on 8/12/08. To see the other comments, go to the following link:

http://www.topix.net/forum/source/wavy/TV87VB...

I wonder how many drugs Frances' & Holly's family used before they saw the Doctor?

Holly wrote:

amen! my mother was all drugged up for 4 years as well. he tried the same with me when i was 16 and all i had was a knee problem and a shoulder ache. i pray for all the lives hes been involved in.

I just wanted to say thank you to Dr. Plotnick. He diagnosed my condition (RA) after over a dozen "specialists" over a year could not. In that year I had every test known to man and these so called specialists could not help me. I was finally referred to Dr. Plotnick for one visit as a "last resort" because the other doctors had run out of expensive tests and scans to perform. I went to Dr. Plotnick and he did what none of the other doctors had ever done. He pulled up a chair and actually took a detailed medical history. After he took my history he spent another 45 minutes reviewing and charting all of the test results that the "specialists" had sent over. My sed rate was off the charts and that result along with my physical exam and history led to a diagnosis of RA. That day I recieved several injections to try to calm the inflamation that was ravaging my joints as well as oral medication and yes narcotics for the pain. I was told how to use the medication and that I could take up to two pills but to start with one and see if it works. I was a responsible patient and at first had to take two pills to control the pain but as the other medications began to take effect I was able to taper off the narcotics. Patients are responsible for themselves no one is forcing you to take the narcotics perscribed to you. Unlike other meds narcotics are not a daily use medication they are a use as needed medication. Dr. plotnick is a compassionate physician who strives to give his patients who are in chronic pain the tools they need to live as normal a life as possible. As adults and patients it is our responsibility to use these tools in a constructive and safe manner. It is a sad day when a compassionate physician who cares more about his patients wellbeing than his bottom line, who is always available (leaving his cell number) has his ability to practice medicine taken away because a few abused the tools that they were provided to manage their conditions.

"It is a sad day when a compassionate physician who cares more about his patients wellbeing than his bottom line, who is always available (leaving his cell number) has his ability to practice medicine taken away because a few abused the tools that they were provided to manage their conditions."

Vmac, I couldnt have said it better!

Unfortunately, for my *rare* condition, there are not many treatment options and I had exhausted them ALL before seeking out a pain specialist. Dr. Plotnick really KNOWS his patients, well. Why? Because he spends more time with them than any other doctor would. My first appt. with him was 3 hours long, it took months to get my plan just right, because my concern was feeling medicine-heady. I did NOT want to feel impaired in anyway, so he respected my wishes and I manage on low-doses and rely on non-narcotics to help fill the gaps.

Its a shame that those of us that are responsible, and use these medications properly are punished for those who choose NOT to think responsibly. If the detailed verbal and written instructions are not enough, Dr. P will answer his cell phone any time of the day or night, My husband called him on a Sunday afternoon once and they probably spoke for 45 minutes. He's truly devoted to his patients, and he involves our families with our care too. My husband is called in periodically to discuss my treatment with Dr. P. How many doctors do that?

i have seen dr.plotnick right a year.he has never gave me meds to take and ask me which one does the best.I did sign a contract, he has done urine tests and when I recieved meds from a ortho doctor he wrote me a certified letter saying I had violeted the contract.Also he had my spouse to come in and wanted my spouses opinion on the meds he was giving me this doctor has made it possible for me to walk and not feel like i was walking in sand.he made it possible for me to sleep at night.The biggest thing was when i got up ine morning I could walk and not be bent over and in pain.

frances wrote:

My husband is/was Dr. Plotnick's patient for 3 years is was a complete nightmare! He made my husband an addict and for 3 years I've been calling this dr. a legalized drug dealer. Now our family has to go thru a detoxing husband/dad!!! thanks Dr. Plotnick

No one is made an addict you are born that way, it.s called an addictive personality. You mean to tell me it took him 3 yrs to figure it out. Or you for that matter, he must have enjoyed himself for 3 yrs.
And by the way recovering addicts still are given narcotics with the understanding "DO NOT TAKE MORE THEN PERSCRIBED". If he would have followed the directions on the bottle he would not have had a problem. A Doctor can do so much especially when people have no common sense. Don't blame you lack of knowledge on the Doctor.

Fred wrote:

I wonder how many drugs Frances' & Holly's family used before they saw the Doctor?
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Holly,
You say your mother was drugged up for 4 years/
You let her go on that way for 4 years. I bet she never showed up at the Doctors looking druged up. Makes you wonder just what her mother and family were doing. I think you are a liar or were very lazy to do something about it. I know you did not tell Dr. P or he would have done something about it. And as far as you are concerned why didn't you tell Dr. P it was too much for you. Were you afraid you would have to give the pills back? It is a r4equirement to return the meds you are not taking so they can be distroyed. I really dislike people like you, the Man performed miracles.

So glad that drugs-on-demand are helping some of you folks out, but when multiple patients in this guy's care start dropping dead, I think it's time to pull the plug on the vending machine. But hey, at least those people aren't feeling the pain anymore, right?

I think that the patient has to hold some responsibility in taking too much of a drug, everyone is aware that taking a narcotic long term will cause addition, you have to be careful as a patient too. My heart goes out to the people who died but I think the truth will come out that they may not have been as responsible about taking the meds as directed and following up on their appointments ect. A lot of information is missing from the news story and frankly we won't get all of it until maybe the end when all is said and done. Whatever happen to a your not guilty until proven so in a court of law, someone please get the doctor's shoes so we can all walk in them for a day!! Stop judging, no wonder Judges are appointed b/c look what would happen if they weren't, you would convict a man based on a media story, thats crazy!!

Dr. P has been a blessing to me for 3 yrs. I was diag. with Fibromylgia w/ CFIDS 18 years ago at Vanderbilt Medical University in Nashville TN. Not until I moved here and started seeing Dr. P did I truly get an understanding of this insane ever changing disease. I spent years bedridden and in constant pain. My first visit Dr P spent over 3 hours with me going over EVERY aspect of my symptoms and history. My body rejects most medicines and he has spent a lot of time and energy to come up with a plan that works for me. I am now back to living life and working 45+ hours a week. Through the education he has provided for me I now listen and understand what my body is telling me. I can get in and out of bed without help, walk across the floor without the stiffness. Dr. P uses more than narc meds and even Alpha-stim vs. meds. His one goal is to give each of his patients a Quality Life. I will never forgot the question I ask him at my first visit, "What made you choose the field of Fibromylgia/CFIDS?" His answer was because my mom had it and I knew there had to be a better way to treat it. That is true compassion. I look forward to a quick resolution to this issue. It is not the doctors fault if someone chooses not to follow directions.

people.. I have read all the comments that have been left on here.Some of you are looking through narrow windows...I'm not saying that everyone is not suffering with their own bodies. I'm sorry you have to feel the pain you live with everyday, but believe me I know the facts and I know what has taken place. Dr, P is not all that everyone thinks he is. He is not God.I hope he gets what is coming to him.
Everyone is taking a word from the story and the word is "Overdose" well I have to say that it is not about that it is so much more.

A 'narrow window'?

Gee, and to think I spent all those years in college to learn how to utilize deductive, inductive and abductive reasoning to make my decisions, based on facts, and/or personal experience and observation as a patient would certainly qualify me to assess the situation and accusation more accurately, as a patient for the last 2 years.

I do hope Dr. P gets what is coming to him too, an exoneration.. No, he's not God..but his heart is in the right place, and he truly cares about his patients.

I am a patient of DR Plotnick,these things that are being said are simply now true. I sign a statement in regards of being responsible for taking my meds, NOT TO TAKE THEM ANYWAY I WANTED TO. I sorry but people who die from over dosing took the meds any way they wanted to. I am very sorry for your lost. But he did not put the pills down there throats. He is a very caring doctor who pull me out of the brink of death, you see I have FIBROMYALIGA, a vey painful condtion, and with the right combination of meds I am able to move around and do things again. He is not responsible for how people miss use drugs. The people who take the drugs are responsible for what they do. My prayers go out to him and his family.

Funny how all the people in here that are sticking up for this guy are the very one's that this guy has hooked. Hardly credible testimony from addicts who have just lost their dealer and are now facing the possibility of having to go cold turkey. Doesn't it say something about this guy's practices when there aren't any other docs waiting in line to pick y'all up as patients? If what he was doing was so straight and narrow, how come there aren't a plethora of other MD's willing to take your business?

Greg W wrote:

Funny how all the people in here that are sticking up for this guy are the very one's that this guy has hooked. Hardly credible testimony from addicts who have just lost their dealer and are now facing the possibility of having to go cold turkey. Doesn't it say something about this guy's practices when there aren't any other docs waiting in line to pick y'all up as patients? If what he was doing was so straight and narrow, how come there aren't a plethora of other MD's willing to take your business?

Greg, you are truly clueless. I am NOT an addict, and I call you out for saying that. Have some respect and compassion for those who are sincerely in pain all the time. The doctors who will not help lift the daily pain from those who suffer so much are unfeeling cowards. I signed an agreement to take my medications responsibly, and that is exactly what I do every day. Dr. Plotnick cannot go home with each patient and personally dole out the meds. There is definitely a responsibility that each patient must take on. If someone feels too giddy, or likes his/her pain meds too much, there is seriously something wrong with them, and they should have the God given sense to stop that addictive behaviour. Nowadays more so than ever before, people are NOT held accountable for their own actions. THAT is just plain stupid. You really ought to think twice before posting. It honestly is a shame that you cannot feel what we do, and suffer as we do, even for just a few days.

How come there aren't a plethora of other MD's willing to take his business? Probably because those plethora of other MD's are afraid that they will get nailed by the Medical Board for trying to help a patient that dies like you who is too stupid to take the medication like the Doctor told you to. Or, I guess to kill yourself is much easier with that bottle of medication than a 38.
Boy, it's a lot easier to blame a doctor, the medication, or the Government.

Greg W wrote:

Funny how all the people in here that are sticking up for this guy are the very one's that this guy has hooked. Hardly credible testimony from addicts who have just lost their dealer and are now facing the possibility of having to go cold turkey. Doesn't it say something about this guy's practices when there aren't any other docs waiting in line to pick y'all up as patients? If what he was doing was so straight and narrow, how come there aren't a plethora of other MD's willing to take your business?

**rolls eyes**

Why are you getting nasty? Are you upset, or maybe *jealous* that people don't think as highly of YOU in your real life as they do Dr. P? Have you not made a difference in someone's life in a positive way? Have you devoted yourself to helping others, but are going 'unnoticed'? There are doctors that can help you work through these issues, hon.

What I think is "funny", is how all of the so-called "addicts" are at least able to produce clear, coherent thoughts in an articulate way. True sentences, which utilize a subject and predicate, whereas, the critics sound as if they could use an Adult Continuing Education class of some sort.

Actually, narcotics are only 'temporary' in Dr. P's treatment of certain ailments, such as fibro. They are used in conjunction with non narcotics and then tapered off once the 'filters' are adjusted. Of course, Pain management clinics see patients with varying 'ailments' from cancer to car-accidents, so each person's *treatment* is different.

I'm sure there are plenty of doctors around here that are willing to pick up new patients, the economy is what it is. However, I think Dr. P's patients (self included) are upset because we *adore* Dr. P and his staff, and would like to remain patients. Prescriptions can come from ANY doctor. But to find a doctor that really cares and doesn't treat you like a #, well, that's hard to find these days.

Fred wrote:

I wonder how many drugs Frances' & Holly's family used before they saw the Doctor?
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i wonder if he's accepting new patients.