Self-Prescribing

**Leonazium** · 07-15-2010, 03:36 AM

One of my co-workers was yelled at about not wanting to accept an expired self-prescription by a plastic surgeon. He stated that he had the right to prescribe any Rx except for narcotics.

I personally feel that self-prescribing is unprofessional, unethical and an abuse of power. What do you guys know about this? My state is Iowa

**scriptfiller** · 07-15-2010, 07:10 AM

We had the wife of an oncologist bring us a script he had wrote her for CL's and wouldn't fill it. Our O.D. on staff made the call owing to the fact they have no formal ophthalmic training, plus the script had a technical error. I believe it was for a WJ D3 LT, he wrote it for a WJ D3 LY.

**opticianbart** · 07-15-2010, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by scriptfiller

I believe it was for a WJ D3 LT, he wrote it for a WJ D3 LY.

the only difference is a T to a Y - you sure it wasn't just a sloppy Dr written T in the first place?

**Craig** · 07-15-2010, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Leonazium

One of my co-workers was yelled at about not wanting to accept an expired self-prescription by a plastic surgeon. He stated that he had the right to prescribe any Rx except for narcotics.

I personally feel that self-prescribing is unprofessional, unethical and an abuse of power. What do you guys know about this? My state is Iowa

Anybody can go to the internet and just enter an RX! Why can't this doc write his own and be responsible for any RX change at 1/2 off. Sou nds good to me.

Craig

**NavyChief** · 07-15-2010, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Craig

Anybody can go to the internet and just enter an RX! Why can't this doc write his own and be responsible for any RX change at 1/2 off. Sou nds good to me.

Craig

The Internet provider still has to verify the Rx with the provider, or is supposed to.
In Ohio, it has to be in the MD's scope of practice. If he is an Oncologist, Optometry isn't in his scope and is to be reported to the licensing board.

**scriptfiller** · 07-15-2010, 12:22 PM

Bart,

That's beside the point, she wasn't getting CL's from us based on the origin of the script.

**optowalt** · 07-16-2010, 06:36 AM

The doc sounds like a pompous ars and prob would be a problem down the line anyway. Let someone else fill the rx and I bet you won't go broke losing one prescription. I bet you will save some agrivation later. Can you imagine if he wants a recheck? And who gets sued if he missed his own tumor? (Did he take his own pd too?) You really don't need every sale. Some are better off at Costco.

**braheem24** · 07-16-2010, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by Leonazium

He stated that he had the right to prescribe any Rx except for narcotics.

He's correct, controlled substances cannot be prescribed for self or family otherwise he can prescribed those all he wants too.

I dont make enemies of people who are paid to give their opinion.

**DC Optix** · 07-16-2010, 07:13 AM

I think it depends on the state. I know here in SC, as long as you're a MD, you can do about anything you want to...no matter what your formal training is. Is it dangerous? All in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. Certainly scares me...

**EdgeOptical** · 07-16-2010, 06:37 PM

it may be legal... but i dont have to do it.

**tigerlilly** · 07-18-2010, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by Leonazium

I personally feel that self-prescribing is unprofessional, unethical and an abuse of power.

I agree. Unfortunately, it's legal in my state. I've seen a few doctors who had been duplicating their last RX on their own for literally years. One was a neurosurgeon! Wouldn't you think that someone intelligent enough to do complex brain surgery would understand that it's important to have a real eye doctor check his vision?

**cocoisland58** · 07-18-2010, 09:45 AM

You have the right to refuse to fill any outside Rx for whatever reason you choose do you not?

**tigerlilly** · 07-18-2010, 08:07 PM

Not when you're in the retail sector. You don't get to make individual decisions about refusing service in that setting. It's not illegal, therefore we fill it.

**EdgeOptical** · 07-20-2010, 09:59 AM

I have the right to refuse service to anyone.

what retail sector are you talking about?

**DC Optix** · 07-21-2010, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by EdgeOptical

I have the right to refuse service to anyone.

what retail sector are you talking about?

Agreed...any private business owner, to my understanding, can refuse service to anyone they want to.

**kat** · 07-21-2010, 12:18 PM

What is that saying??????? Oh yeah, "Physician Heal Thyself". I believe in all states, an MD can write out an Rx for anything (except narcotics for self/family) they deem warented. I will not fill them, I agree, I don't need that customer in my store.

**tigerlilly** · 07-21-2010, 09:32 PM

Private dispensaries can do whatever the hell they want. I do not work for a private office.

ETA: I had two RXs today from physician family members, which is unusual. One I did not fill because the neurologist who wrote it didn't know how to write it and put the wrong base curve for that product. I can absolutely refuse to fill an improperly written RX, and so many non-optical docs have no idea how to write an RX correctly that I do end up refusing a fair percentage of them. I just cannot refuse an RX solely based on the fact that it was written by a different kind of doctor, or for one's self.

**Leonazium** · 07-22-2010, 12:05 AM

That's hilarious. Even I could forge any Glass/CT Rx. Maybe these Docs need to watch more "Catch me if you can" or have more respect for optometrists.

Anyway I work for Sam's Club and if I refuse the Rx for valid reasons he could still go to the managers that can try to force me into filling it.

Question 2. If for some reason I find it unethical can I deny the Rx and claim "I could lose my certification/license" as the reason?