The central argument of Drug Dealer, MD , by addiction psychiatrist Anna Lembke, is that doctors, patients, pharmaceutical companies, medical professional societies, and federal regulatory boards all must be held accountable for the currently raging prescription drug abuse epidemic.
Do doctors get kickbacks for prescriptions?
Ornstein continued, “ It's illegal to give kickbacks to a doctor to prescribe drugs , but it is legal to give money to doctors to help promote your drug. Some doctors make tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year beyond their normal practice just for working with the industry.”
Can a doctor be held liable for a patient's opioid abuse?
A doctor might be liable for opioid addiction and other prescription medication overuse if medical negligence can be shown. Patients recovering from surgery or particularly painful injuries are often prescribed narcotic or opioid pain medications.
What is considered abuse of prescription drugs?
Overview. Misuse of prescription drugs means taking a medication in a manner or dose other than prescribed ; taking someone else's prescription, even if for a legitimate medical complaint such as pain; or taking a medication to feel euphoria (i.e., to get high).
physicians can write prescriptions. Licensed physician's assistants (P.A.), nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and clinical psychologists can prescribe medications under various circumstances.
Can you sue a doctor for overprescribing Xanax?
You may be able to sue your doctor for over-prescribing benzodiazepine if it caused you or a loved one to suffer injuries.
Can a doctor be sued for overprescribing opioids?
Yes, you may qualify to sue your doctor for over-prescribing opioids . To successfully recover damages from your doctor, you must establish that the doctor was negligent in prescribing your opioids and you suffered harm and damages as a result.
What happens if you abuse prescription drugs?
Opioids can cause low blood pressure , a slowed breathing rate and potential for breathing to stop, or a coma. Overdose has a significant risk of death. Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives can cause memory problems, low blood pressure and slowed breathing. Overdose can cause coma or death.
What are the dangers of prescription drug abuse?
Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person's health. Opioid abuse can lead to vomiting, mood changes, decrease in ability to think (cognitive function) , and even decreased respiratory function, coma, or death.
What is the most over prescribed drug?
Hydrocodone (combined with acetaminophen) — 131.2 million prescriptions. Generic Zocor (simvastatin), a cholesterol-lowering statin drug — 94.1 million prescriptions. Lisinopril (brand names include Prinivil and Zestril), a blood pressure drug — 87.4 million prescriptions.
Can a pharmacist refuse a prescription?
Legitimate refusal: A pharmacist can refuse to fill a valid/on-time prescription for a controlled substance if doing so would harm the patient , such as when the patient is allergic to the medication, the medication would adversely interact with other medications that the patient is taking, or the prescribed dose is ...
Can doctors prescribe whatever they want?
Although the FDA approves all prescription drugs sold in the United States, the agency can't limit how doctors prescribe drugs after they're on the market . Doctors often direct patients to take medications for conditions that have not been approved by the FDA. This is called off-label drug use.
Which is the main body of prescription?
The superscription includes the date the prescription order is written; the name, address, weight, and age of the patient; and the Rx (Take). The body of the prescription, or inscription, contains the name and amount or strength of the drug to be dispensed , or the name and strength of each ingredient to be compounded.
Can you sue a doctor for getting you addicted to drugs?
You can sue your doctor if you develop an opioid addiction from prescriptions , but you will need to prove that he or she were medically negligent in doing so.
Can a doctor refuse to give you pain medication?
If you do not understand something, be sure to ask. Remember, failing to follow all the terms of the agreement can have dire consequences. For instance, if you do not follow the agreement or do something that is forbidden, your doctor may refuse to prescribe any additional pain medications for you .
Do chronic pain patients have rights?
Chronic pain patients have a legitimate – and often debilitating – medical condition and have a right to medically appropriate pain treatment . “Physicians need to be cautious when prescribing these medications,” said Mills.
