Quick, prescription question.

[Vanquisher]

Do your spouses ever write prescriptions for you? I need a prescription for cold sore medication, and I really don't have the time or money to go to the FP just to get one. It is clearly not a narcotic or anything like that.

So, would your spouse write for you or your kids to get an antibiotic or birth control? I wanted him to write me for that too, but he really didn't want to. This has to be one of the perks of the job, right? Maybe the only perk I have right now.

Would he ask another resident to write it for you?

[houseelf]

DH will not write anything for us AT ALL (argh) but he will ask another resident to write up innocuous stuff.

Kelly

[Vanquisher]

He was supposed to do that already, but forgot. I told him to just page one of them, but he said, "I'll write it." Seriously, is it bad to write for your spouses or okay?

I want to know the ethics and no-nos here. Is it frowned upon? Is it something they simply don't do?

From my experience....I think it is frowned upon.

When our neighbor (physician) would call in an Rx for his wife, he would use her maiden name. Not sure of the reasoning, perhaps he thought the pharmacist would say something?

We usually find someone else to prescribe. At the last program, the health benefits would not cover a prescription written by ANY resident, only attendings.

[spotty_dog]

Here's an article, and an excerpt:
"Most physicians are not aware that ethical guidelines on the treatment of non-patients do exist.1 Section E-8.19 of the AMA Code of Medical Ethics (available online at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/8510.html) states that "physicians generally should not treat themselves or members of their immediate families" because their professional objectivity may be compromised in those situations. Exceptions are allowed for "short-term, minor problems" or "in emergency or isolated settings." The American College of Physicians (ACP) Ethics Manual (available online at http://www.acponline.org/ethics/ethicman.htm) similarly asserts that "physicians should avoid treating themselves, close friends or members of their own families." It goes on to comment that "physicians should be very cautious about assuming the care of closely associated employees.""

No articles here but FIL won't prescribe anything anymore (even antibiotics) to any family members. He used to occasionally prescribe such things but told us over Thanksgiving that the medical board is becoming more vigilant about all scripts these days.

[Vanquisher]

Thanks all. I had him page a resident to write it for me. Dumb.

Are there any benefits to being the spouse of a physician?

Sure, other people are jelous of your glamorous lifestyle!!!

[Sheherezade]

When we were kids, my dad treated us for everything (except my surgery and major accidents!) until I was about 12 or 13. Then, there was some shift in the medical culture. His father had treated his family when he was a child. I think this particular ethical guideline has become more "hardline" in the last 20-30 years. I think before it was more of a "don't do the heart transplant on your own kid, you can't be objective." Now, you can't do a strep culture on your own kid. I think it is a little extreme now. Maybe it is just interpretted as such? I don't think the ethical guidelines that Alison provided prevent short-term, one time non-emergency care.

For the record, DH won't prescribe anything for us. In residency, there was an issue with an attending's spouse calling various residents to get narcotics prescribed. I don't think her husband even knew about it. It went on for awhile before somebody realized that she was scamming the residents for drugs. Does that count as a perk?

[mommax3]

DH would always get a buddy to prescribe for me during residency.....I was never sure if it was a "rule" or just DH's comfort level.

Sally

[Vishenka69]

Since most of our social circle is also in residency, I just call up one of them and give them the number for the pharmacy along with my symptoms/needs. DH doesn't have a stamp now that he's in anesthesia (or at least that's what he told me).

The pharmacist in our local place has a daughter in residency, so he told DH to just write stuff for me if he needs to.

[Rapunzel]

My understanding is that there is nothing illegal about it.

Fewer and fewer physicians are joining the AMA. A good chunk of them because they disagree with the AMA's "ethics".

Seriously, this is a question of what your state laws are governing this situation. A national organization may have an opinion on the issue, but it's just an opinion and can be ignored. Now, the laws are what I'd be concerned about....

Jennifer

[Rapunzel]

Oh, I forgot to add this tidbit:

My husband can not prescribe!

Why?

Radiologists don't have to in most situations!

How do ya like them apples?

(Makes me wonder why he had to go through pharmacology at all ).

[DCJenn]

My husband will ask a co-worker to prescribe for him. I don't take meds in general other than Ibuprofin so it would have to be a serious thing that I would see a doc for in the first place.

When Nikolai had that oh so lovely Giardia, Walter Reed never managed to get the medication mixed- so Rick called the local CVS, explained the situation (like the kid would clear a room with the smell of his diapers...so imagine how fun they were to change!) and the pharmacist said they had the stuff, asked what flavor he wanted added and then added additional sweetener because the medicine supposedly is awful. So, Rick wrote the scrip and I picked it up. The pharmacist was incredible, though. She knew her stuff!

Getting prescriptions filled at WR is an amazing experience- since there are about a million ancient retirees, families with kids, injured soldiers, etc. Basically it's like going to the DMV, bring lunch and a book! (Although if I have a refill of Nikolai's, I get Rick to pick it up- Personnel in uniform are always prioritized.)

Short answer- no, he's never written a scrip for me and only under extreme condidtions has he written one for Nikolai.

Jenn