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Doctor Fired for Compassionate Care?
5 Jan
Summary
- Doctor Elyse Stevens faced scrutiny for her patient-centered approach.
- Her supervisors questioned her prescribing practices and drug testing.
- Hundreds of patients were transferred after her dismissal in March 2024.
Dr. Elyse Stevens, a physician in New Orleans, was dismissed in March 2024 due to her unconventional approach to addiction medicine. She focused on patient-centered care, measuring progress on a spectrum rather than solely on abstinence or negative drug tests. This method involved treating patients with complex histories, including those with chronic pain and long-term addiction.
Her supervisors at University Medical Center New Orleans expressed concerns about her prescribing patterns, including high doses of buprenorphine and the co-prescription of opioids and other controlled substances. They also questioned her reliance on urine drug tests and her continued treatment of patients using illicit drugs. In response, Stevens provided research and national guidelines supporting her methods.
Despite her defense, a hospital review committee concluded her practices fell "outside of the acceptable community standards." This led to an investigation by the state's medical licensing board, costing Stevens another job offer. She has since moved to the Virgin Islands, leaving behind patients who relied on her care.
