II. Precautions
- Do not write controlled substance prescriptions (e.g. Opioids, Benzodiazepines) for family or friends
- Some state laws in U.S. prohibit prescribing to self or family
- Home treatment of minor symptoms is reasonable
- Notify primary provider of medications prescribed outside of their care
- However, major symptoms are best treated with formal evaluations
- Avoid prescribing chronic medications for self, friends or family
- Risk if adverse events occur
- Rendered care may be sub-standard of the care you would deliver to others
- Clinician may not ask their family member sensitive questions
- Clinician may stretch their care beyond their level of expertise
- Family members may have misconceptions or unrealistic expectations and perceive a poor outcome
- Trying to please a family member may result in altering care from best practice with a worse outcome
III. References
- Weinstock, Sharkis, Marks and Herbert in Herbert (2016) EM:Rap 16(6): 15-6
- (2019) Presc Lett 26(5)