Kansas Pharmacy Professionals – Communicating Warnings to Patients

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Pharmacy professionals, whether pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, or other pharmacy employees, have a duty to communicate warnings to patients regarding particular medications, and potential drug interactions. While pharmacy technicians and other pharmacy employees may not have the same knowledge as pharmacists regarding the reasons for drug warnings, they should still communicate warnings that are included on the prescription bottle and package insert that accompanies the medication.

The pharmaceutical industry grows each day and new warnings may be issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that need to be communicated to patients, such as Black Box Warnings regarding serious side-effects of particular drugs. If patients suffer injuries or illnesses as a result of a medication or a drug interaction, and no warning was given that may have prevented the injuries or illnesses from occurring, a pharmacy professional may be accused of playing a role in causing the injuries and/or illnesses.

For example, if a pharmacy technician failed to communicate a warning that was clearly noted on the patient’s file or on the prescription bottle itself, and the patient experienced side-effects from the medication, or from drug interactions with other medications, the pharmacy technician may face disciplinary action from the Kansas Board of Pharmacy. Further, the pharmacist supervising the pharmacy technician may also face disciplinary action if he or she did not adequately train the pharmacy technician to communicate warnings to patients.

Potential Disciplinary Action

If you are facing disciplinary action, and you have no idea what the potential consequences are if the Kansas Board of Pharmacy issues an adverse decision against you, it is important to consult with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney as soon as possible. Depending on the nature and severity of the injuries or illnesses suffered by a patient, and depending upon the seriousness of the pharmacy professional’s mistake in failing to warn the patient about drug warnings, the pharmacy professional faces one or more of the following disciplinary actions:

  • Public reprimand;
  • Private reprimand;
  • Suspension of your professional license for a period of time
  • Requirement to attend an educational program regarding pharmacy practices; and
  • Revocation of your professional license.

What may not seem like a big deal to most people, such as a minor warning that a patient may have an upset stomach after taking a particular medication, could actually turn out to be a very big deal. A simple mistake could cost you your professional license and may subject you to a civil lawsuit. As such, if you are facing any type of disciplinary proceeding before the Kansas Board of Pharmacy, it is imperative that you seek the advice of a qualified Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who fully understands the disciplinary process and how crucial such proceedings can be for determining the fate of your professional license. Regardless of how serious you believe your situation is, your attorney can thoroughly explain all options, all potential outcomes to your situation, and how to move on once everything is all said and done.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

As a pharmacy professional, you are aware of what your responsibilities are in terms of educating patients on the medications they are taking. When mistakes happen, or accusations are made, it is important to consult with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney right away to address the situation. With your career on the line, it is important to speak with an attorney sooner rather than later. Attorney Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office is a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who devotes her law practice to helping Kansas professionals keep their licenses and practice in their profession for many years to come. As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger understands your situation from all angles. To schedule a free consultation with Danielle Sanger, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

 

 

What Doctors Should Know About Prescribing Medication for Family and Friends

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Having a doctor in your family or among your group of friends can prove to be useful for getting general medical advice, receiving medical care in an emergency situation, or receiving care after hours, when physician offices are closed, among many other situations. Generally, there is nothing wrong with a physician prescribing medication for a family member or friend so long as there is a clear indication that the medication is medically necessary and there are symptoms documented to support the physician’s decision to prescribe the medication. If physicians use their prescribing authority ethically and in good faith, there should never be any accusation that the physician is abusing his or her authority to write prescriptions.

When You Could Get Into Trouble

In Kansas, the use of prescribed controlled substances is heavily regulated. There are certainly situations where a patient legitimately needs prescription pain medication to treat severe pain following an accident, or operation, for example. However, if a Kansas physician is prescribing controlled substances to family members or friends for non-emergency medical ailments, such as headaches, or general pain with no clear diagnosis of what is causing the pain, then the physician could be accused of abusing his or her prescribing authority. As such, regardless of what medication you are prescribing, who you are prescribing the medication to, and why you are prescribing it, it is imperative to ensure that your records clearly document all details relating to your prescription practices.

Being able to prescribe your ill family member or friend medication in a time of need is a convenience that may save time and money. But, Kansas physicians should be cautious and only prescribe medication when no other viable alternative is available, and/or if there is clear documentation of medical necessity that justifies prescribing the medication.

Regulation of Prescription Practices Has Become Much Stricter in Kansas

Legitimately prescribing medication to family members or friends was not always a concern for many Kansas physicians. However, given that the prescription drug industry is booming, and given that there is an abundance of individuals who have prescription drug dependence, Kansas has cracked down to ensure that all prescriptions for controlled substances in Kansas are tracked, and regulations have been put into place to monitor physician prescribing practices.

Because there is so much at risk for Kansas physicians, prescribing medication for family members and friends should only be done when absolutely necessary. It is better to protect yourself and take all steps necessary to ensure you are complying with Kansas state law and the rules and regulations of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

As a physician, you have the requisite education and experience to make a decision as to whether or not a loved one is in need of medical care. As a physician, you are allowed to prescribe medication for a particular purpose, however, many physicians fail to keep proper records regarding when and why medication is prescribed to loved ones. It is essential that all prescribing practices are fully documented so that there can be no question regarding the efficacy of the prescriptions being written. If you are a Kansas physician and your professional license may be at risk due to alleged unethical or wrongful prescription practices, it is important that you speak with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney right away. As a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas, Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office has the skill, experience, and dedication necessary to help you keep your license to practice medicine in the state of Kansas. To schedule a free consultation, contact the Sanger Law Office today by calling (785) 979-4353.

 

 

Kansas Professionals – What You Should Know About Misrepresentation

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Most businesses have turned to the internet for advertising, as people often search google to find a doctor, pharmacist, attorney, or other Kansas professional. While the internet has proved to be useful for businesses and has helped professionals grow, there are also downsides that can lead to the detriment of Kansas professionals. Any information that you advertise to patients or clients on your website must be accurate. Individuals looking at your website may believe you are an expert in a particular field because of the way you advertise your services.

For example, if you are looking for a doctor who alleges to specialize in treating migraines, but that doctor does not have any special training or degree to substantiate the specialty, that doctor may be accused of misrepresentation. While this doctor may have extensive experience with treating migraines, and has done endless research, without a degree or certificate relating to the specialty, that doctor may be representing to potential patients that he or she is an expert or specialist in the area of migraine headaches, and that such a specialty typically requires a degree or certificate. Because most people receive information from the internet, wording is very important. A few words could change the meaning or interpretation of the description of a professional’s specialty. Therefore, in order to avoid accusations of misrepresentation, it is essential that all information communicated through the internet is valid.

Consequences of Misrepresentation

Whether intended or not, if a professional misrepresents his or her qualifications to a potential patient or client, and that person is injured or harmed in some way, the professional may be held responsible for any injuries or monetary harm suffered by the individual. Using the example above regarding the migraine specialist, if this specialist used manual techniques to relieve migraines, such as massaging or pushing on the head or neck in some way, and the patient is injured, that doctor may be liable for those injuries if he or she has no degree or certification authorizing the use of manual treatment for migraines.

If accused of misrepresentation and the Kansas professional board wishes to bring disciplinary action against you, it is important that you have a skilled Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney by your side to defend your rights and help you keep your professional license. Your version of the facts must be presented for you to have a fair proceeding, and your attorney will ensure that you have a well-prepared case to help reach a positive result.

More often than not, Kansas professionals have no intention of misrepresenting themselves, but because of how information is communicated through the internet, and other media outlets, it is understandable how prospective patients or clients could misinterpret what is being represented to them. As such, it is important to speak with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney who can explain what steps you should take to avoid being subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Contact Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office Today to Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you are a Kansas professional, whether a physician, attorney, pharmacist, veterinarian, or any other professional, and your professional license is at risk, you should consult with a Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney right away. Being accused of misrepresentation creates feelings of stress, anxiety, and a feeling of helplessness. Simply being accused of misconduct does not prove anything. You have an opportunity to present your own version of the facts to your professional disciplinary board. In order to understand what misrepresentation means, and what you can do to avoid being accused of misrepresentation, contact Kansas Professional License Defense Attorney Danielle Sanger of the Sanger Law Office to discuss your situation. Danielle Sanger is a former Assistant Attorney General of Kansas and devotes her law practice to helping Kansas professionals keep their licenses and fight disciplinary charges or complaints. To schedule your free consultation with Danielle Sanger, contact us today by calling (785) 979-4353.