Mom has glaucoma and has for several years been on Xalatan and Betoptic eye drops to treat the condition, but it has slowly gotten worse. A year and a half ago, her eye doctor tried a laser treatment and that did not work to improve her vision. So at that time he said there is nothing more he can do.
Now he/his office has refused to refill her prescriptions until she makes an appointment and comes in. She does not want to go -- it would be a morning appointment which is a hardship to her, he can't do anything more for her so she sees no reason to put herself through all that for "nothing". But she has to have the eye drops or her remaining eyesight is at risk, plus the physical condition of her eyes (pain and even potential rupture if inner eye pressure increases without the stabilizing effect of the eye drops).
Can an eye doctor legally withhold medications like these?
He probably wants to check for any changes and/or deterioration, which may or may not affect the prescription he writes.
Someone's eyesight is worth making a few sacrifices. Is there any reason why the appointment couldn't be in the afternoon?
It sounds as though he may be heading toward retirement if he's cutting back his hours, unless he's teaching or involved in some other medical activity.
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