@article {Bittleman269, author = {David Bittleman}, title = {My Patient Wants to Kill Me}, volume = {18}, number = {3}, pages = {269--271}, year = {2020}, doi = {10.1370/afm.2517}, publisher = {The Annals of Family Medicine}, abstract = {A few years into my practice at the Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic, I was threatened by an angry patient when I had to discontinue his opioids. I placed a civil restraining order against him and when we met in court he admitted to the judge that stopping opioids improved his behavior. I discovered that the legal system could support the medical system{\textquoteright}s care of threatening patients but found the process stressful. My story outlines my journey and suggests that safety-net institutions such as the Veterans Affairs clinics might consider creating {\textquotedblleft}patients of concern{\textquotedblright} panels where patients who have made threats meet with clinicians and administrators as part of ongoing treatment and, as a result, perhaps avoid courtroom visits. These panels could allow patients to air their grievances as well as see that a group of concerned clinicians are reviewing their care and making decisions as a team. Violence in the workplace, especially in health care, is on the rise. The stress this causes doctors, nurses, and staff is considerable. Leadership at safety-net institutions such as VA need to explore novel ways of addressing workplace violence.}, issn = {1544-1709}, URL = {https://www.annfammed.org/content/18/3/269}, eprint = {https://www.annfammed.org/content/18/3/269.full.pdf}, journal = {The Annals of Family Medicine} }