Delayed Treatment for Sickle Cell Patients

The American Pain Society (APS) has stated that acute and chronic pain associated with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) goes unnoticed, improperly treated or inappropriately managed by medical professionals. Research further has proven this point. A study looked specifically at the amount of time an average sickle cell patient had to wait in an emergency waiting room and found that the average time from wait to treatment was 90 minutes.

There are a few reasons why pain in the sickle cell patient often goes untreated. The first reason is because sickle cell patients are often mislabeled as narcotic addicts who are seeking drugs for non-pharmacological reasons. In reality, the number of those who are sickle cell patients with narcotic addictions is no more than three percent. That is compared to 7.1 percent of the general population. Another reason why sickle cell pain crisis often goes either improperly treated or untreated is due to a lack of understanding of the pain crisis that affects so many sickle cell patients.

It is important to keep in mind that sickle cell patients are familiar with the painful experience of a sickle cell crisis. Therefore, their ability to handle pain is typically above the norm. The response of the patient with Sickle Cell Disease is not to immediately go to the emergency room when a painful crisis begins. In fact, the reason that a sickle cell patient decides to seek emergency medical care is because their pain is so out of control they feel they have no other option. Sickle cell crisis is a traumatic event and should not be a time when an individual has to defend their need to seek emergency medical care.

Education for medical professionals should be aimed at pointing out the distinctions between the signs and symptoms of a sickle cell crisis and drug seeking behavior. Education should also include the importance of treating the pain in a response and manner that will allow for a quick relief. Pain management should follow the analgesic ladder recommended by the World Health Organization.

We can help you with case preparation involving Sickle Cell patients who have experienced a delay in treatment. Or, if you would like information about the World Health Organization pain ladder, you can contact our office at info@medicaljurisprudence.com or call us at 630-551-0978.