Dr. Heit on Talking to Patients About Urine Drug Testing

Howard A. Heit, MD, FACP, FASAM, Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Diplomate in Addiction Medicine, Certified Medical Review Officer, Chronic Pain Specialist, Assistant Clinical Professor, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, explains how he talks to patients about the need for urine drug testing.

Dr. Heit says a urine drug test is not about trust – it’s about good medical care. The patient has every right to refuse having the urine drug test, but the physician’s rights allow him to limit the patient’s care and limit the medications or the type of medications that he prescribes to the patient.
 
Dr. Heit says it’s the patient’s choice. He states that in his practice he does not use a forensic test, there is no chain of custody, and there’s no observed urine. He adds that the urine drug test is for the benefit of the patient.
 
While the patient has every right to refuse it, the physician is under no obligation to prescribe a controlled substance if a patient refuses the test.