What Doctors Should Know About Prescribing Medication for Family and Friends

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.

 

 

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