Illegal or unethical?

[threecrazykids]

I have a neighbor whom I would consider myself "friendly" with. By no means are we BFF but we do talk frequently. I like her, but she's the type of person I keep at arms length because for some reason she always feels the need to try to make me believe all of her friends are so rich and successful etc.

Anyway, her and another neighbor of ours (who DOESN'T always do the "my friends are so rich game) were friends before they moved into our cul-de-sac. We were all 3 talking in our yards the other day about their kids being ill and they were discussing how they "just called and had Amy write them a script for a Z-pack". The Bragger turned to me and said "gosh...it's so nice having a doctor for a friend".

Amy (whom both of them are friends with) is their DENTIST...not their doctor.

They went on and on how nice it is to just "call Amy and have her write it up" and go get a prescription whenever they need it. She had apparently written one for every member in the one household as walking pneumonia and some other illness had been spreading through their house. The Bragger said she had a UTI and her daughter had some sort of a cold (she's 1) and she just wrote one for them too.

I have to admit I'm a little jealous that they don't have to pay the co-pay and go to the doctor but I'm just wondering...is this really ok? I don't know that it's illegal...but wouldn't a pharmacist question this? When you see a script for a 1 year old for a Z pack- wouldn't you wonder what kind of dental treatment would be required on a child that age?

Is it illegal...unethical (as in she could really get in trouble with a medical board...not just morally)?

 

[shaylyn]

I'm not a Doctor (Well, let me clarify. I am a Google Doctor, but I don't think that counts) but I would imagine it's illegal to prescribe an Rx to a patient you have never seen.

 

[Art 1]

If it's all true, a dentist would not prescribe cold medicine but antibiotics and pain medicine. Since it does not involve you or your family don't let it bother you. Who cares.

 

[threecrazykids]

If it's all true, a dentist would not prescribe cold medicine but antibiotics and pain medicine. Since it does not involve you or your family don't let it bother you. Who cares.

I know! Why do I even care? She didn't write it for cold meds...she writes Z-pack (Azythromyacin-sp?) so yes...it is for antibiotics.

I am not losing sleep over it...I just wonder if a dentist SHOULD write out scripts for friends when it's clearly NOT a dental related illness?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would think both. A Dentist is not licensed to treat medical issues that don't involve teeth. Wonder what would happen the day she "misdiagnoses" someone. Not sure what I would do.

It may cause you to lose friends if you do something.

 

[threecrazykids]

I'm not a Doctor (Well, let me clarify. I am a Google Doctor, but I don't think that counts) but I would imagine it's illegal to prescribe an Rx to a patient you have never seen.

I know they all go to her for their dental work (for free)...so maybe they had the 1 year old just come "sit in the chair" to look in her mouth to make her a patient maybe? Who knows...I just am wondering if really it's ok to do this.

If so...maybe I need to get a little tighter in this group!

 

[Christine]

It's totally irresponsible. A dentist can prescribe antibiotics for mouth infections so I'm sure that the pharmacist didn't think twice. A diagnosis is not required on a prescription nor is an office visit.

I will admit, I've only ever done something like this once.

My best friend has a good friend who is a nurse practictioner for a GP's office. I met her at a shower I was having for my friend and she was really nice and friendly. Shortly after the shower I got really, really ill and it was a "self- diagnosed" sinus infection that was the worst I ever had. It was the weekend, my doctor was closed and back then we did not have the plethora of urgent cares that we have today.

My friend called her on my behalf and she called me in a prescription for Augmentin which worked like a charm. I was really greatful but would NEVER impose on her like that again and felt bad about it.

 

[tvguy]

Well, before managed health care, all our doctors would write a prescription without seeing you for things like a sinus infection. But we were all patients of those doctors.
Since managed health care, it seems they won't do anything without you coming in, paying your $25 co-pay, and billing your insurance for a $350 office visit.

 

[Tink888]

Not my business so I wouldn't care either way.

A dentist can prescribe antibiotics. I have to take them before every dental visit and my dentist just calls in a script for them to my pharmacist.

The not being seen really isn't a big deal to me. There's been a few times when I've been sick and I know what it is (kids or DH had it first) that I've called my doctor and asked them to call something in and they have. I rarely do it so maybe that's why I have an easy time getting them when I ask.

Illegal? Not sure. Ethical? Probably not. Personally, For a zpack I don't see anything wrong with it. If it was oxycontin or something like that then I'd have a problem.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Did a google and came across this interesting Q/A "expert" article...I am wondering what actual laws state...

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dentistry-966/treating-infection.htm

 

[mamacatnv]

I can't imagine it is legal at all. I would worry that there is no paper trail should my kid really get sick. Also, a dentist is not a Dr. and I would hope that the FDA or whoever it is that regulates RX drugs would have an issue with it.
However, thats their issue and I certainly would not get involved in that one. If dentist friend knew neighbor was so openly bragging I would hope Dentist would rein in her RX pad.

 

[threecrazykids]

Did a google and came across this interesting Q/A "expert" article...I am wondering what actual laws state...

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dentistry-966/treating-infection.htm

Interesting

 

[JessicaR]

I think that Dentist is nuts to dispense scripts for anything outside a patient with a dental diagnosis. Friends must mean more than her license.

 

[FredinFL]

Both.

It's illegal because the dentist isn't a physician and shouldn't be dispensing medication for illnesses, unethical because as a dentist, she KNOWS she shouldn't be doing it.

If the medical board found out she was doing it, there would be an inquiry.

 

[design_mom]

A number of years ago, it came out that our local TV weatherman was double dipping. He was getting prescriptions written from his regular doctor and asking "a friend" (the TV station's health segment doctor) for prescriptions as well. He got caught when he tried to fill two prescriptions for the same drug on the same day. They did an inquiry and the TV-station doctor lost his license since he was dispensing medication irresponsibly.

I am not sure what the chances of Dr. Amy getting "caught" are, assuming your neighbors are smart enough not to try to get and fill multiple prescriptions for the same thing... but, based on the TV station incident, it sounds like it could cost her her license if she's caught.

 

[disneyquestions]

I don't think its very smart on the part of the dentist. Someone gets sick and sues, there will be a huge problem for her. On the other hand, now-a-days, a dentist goes for a weekend course, and can do a breast job on anyone.... That doesn't seem very smart either....

 

[jaminmd]

That's how we get "superbugs" like MRSA & VRE, when antibiotics are used inappropriately.

I'm an infection prevention & control nurse, so I fight this battle on a daily basis. The other problem with the scenario you describe is the fact that they are writing prescriptions for illnesses that have not been diagnosed by an MD, PA, or CRNP as well as never directly examining the patient. Dentists should write for dental related issues, not pneumonia.

 

[castmemberb4]

I am the Office Manager for a General Dentist.

1) He would not give a Rx to a patient for a dental problem
that he has not seen in the office.

2) Even for us his staff he would not write a Rx
for something he is not qualified to treat.

Now having said that he is VERY ethical and does things
by the book, that's why he's been in the same practice
for 25 years. I have known dentist in the past who would
give persciptions for antibiotics to family members.
I even knew one who gave his assistant an injection
of novacaine in the belly when she was on her way to
get her navel pieced. Not saying it's right just that it happens.
Also saying it's the reason I work for the one I do

 

[Art 1]

Interesting

This really seems to be bothering you.

 

[threecrazykids]

I am the Office Manager for a General Dentist.

1) He would not give a Rx to a patient for a dental problem
that he has not seen in the office.

2) Even for us his staff he would not write a Rx
for something he is not qualified to treat.

Now having said that he is VERY ethical and does things
by the book, that's why he's been in the same practice
for 25 years. I have known dentist in the past who would
give persciptions for antibiotics to family members.
I even knew one who gave his assistant an injection
of novacaine in the belly when she was on her way to
get her navel pieced. Not saying it's right just that it happens.
Also saying it's the reason I work for the one I do

I simply question the ethics. She KNEW it wasn't for a dental related problem. She wrote scripts for the entire family when one of the kids had some sort of walking pneumonia and the rest of them started getting symptoms. She's also written one for the other gal when she had a UTI.

I know it's none of my business, so I wouldn't ever say anything to them directly...but I thought I'd come to the dis for thoughts.