Are there any rules on prescribing medicine or calling in a prescription for a friend or co-worker? Not narcotics but BP meds/antibiotics? Do you really need to chart it?

In general doing so is a bad idea. You definitely should make a chart for anybody for whom prescribe medication; you are liable for any side effect/interaction, so you should document that you have history/physical on that person. All in all, better to be friends with your friends and a physician to your patients. If your friends want you to be their doctor, that's fine but they should come see you in your office or clinic so you can properly evaluate them. Otherwise you could be setting your friend and yourself up for trouble.

Sometimes all that stands between friendship and a lawsuit is one untoward side effect, even from something as simple as an antibiotic.

Are there any rules on prescribing medicine or calling in a prescription for a friend or co-worker? Not narcotics but BP meds/antibiotics? Do you really need to chart it?

Yes, there are "rules." Check with your state Board of Pharmacy. In Virginia, we're periodically mailed a list of actions taken against physicians by the state Board of Medicine (we refer to them as the "yellow pages," as they're printed on yellow paper). One of the top reasons for being sanctioned is prescribing for persons with whom you do not have a doctor-patient relationship (not limited to controlled substances, but that'll get you in trouble quicker than most other meds).

There are a lot of threads on this over on the General Residency forum.

In general doing so is a bad idea. You definitely should make a chart for anybody for whom prescribe medication; you are liable for any side effect/interaction, so you should document that you have history/physical on that person. All in all, better to be friends with your friends and a physician to your patients. If your friends want you to be their doctor, that's fine but they should come see you in your office or clinic so you can properly evaluate them. Otherwise you could be setting your friend and yourself up for trouble.

I agree. Plus, the insurance company might call with questions regarding the prescription if your coworker or friend decides not to use cash.

Are there any rules on prescribing medicine or calling in a prescription for a friend or co-worker?

I do this sometimes for co-workers (sleep lab technicians or other sleep lab personnel). I do try to make sure that a chart is created and that a brief note is put in the chart.

I do draw the line at somethings- a manager at one of the sleep labs at which I work recently called me and asked me to call in an opthalamic abx for "pink eye" in his one year old niece, who was visiting from another state and whom I had never seen. Since this involved 3 things that scare me: 1) eyes, 2) young children, and 3) patients I had never seen; I refused.

I'm guessing prescribing for yourself is similarly off-limits?

I'm guessing prescribing for yourself is similarly off-limits?

It depends on what it is.

I have no trouble prescribing myself birth control and I'll admit I've written myself for some cosmetic stuff (Latisse, Tretinoin) but was sort of nervous when I handed the script over, as if the pharmacist would say something.:D

Narcs, obviously off limits. Propofol always all limits!

I have no trouble prescribing myself birth control and I'll admit I've written myself for some cosmetic stuff (Latisse, Tretinoin) but was sort of nervous when I handed the script over, as if the pharmacist would say something.:D

It's certainly better to have him question your need for wrinkle remover than your need for contraception. ;)

It's certainly better to have him question your need for wrinkle remover than your need for contraception. ;)

:laugh: