The Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) Patient

There are reports that patients with sickle cell anemia who complain about intense body pain from a sickle cell crisis are treated very inhumanely by some physicians when seen in the ER.  These African American patients are often confused with drug seekers, but they are really suffering and legitimately require opioid medications to treat the pain.

The opioid epidemic has cast a dark cloud on them, but they need these medications together with other treatment modalities.

Sickle cell patients, seen in the ER, are often neglected and the last to be treated because their plan is not considered significant.

Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder, primarily seen in African Americans.  The blood cannot flow smoothly to the organs and throughout the body, causing a log jamming phenomenon resulting in intense pain.

It is unfortunate that some clinicians do not appreciate what these patients experience.