Drug dependence? Hmmm...
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anna_key ...@hotmail.com (anna keynow)
I just spotted a post that asked about Oramorph. So, I thought I'd have a nosey around the web on this cold and now 'stopped snowing' (grrrr...) evening.
I come across a the following site, from the public health division of the state of Victoria, Australia.
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phd/hprot/drugpois/phsrmp.html Anyway, I noticed the following section, and was somewhat bemused by it.
Drug-dependent Patients A doctor must notify DHS if patient is suspected to be drug-dependent.
The reason for my initial knee-jerk of "what the **** are they thinking?" was due to me thinking that surely, all patients prescribed a sustained-release formulation of morphine would always become dependent. Perhaps more-so than a person on doses that are just taken p.r.n.
So, would this requirement have an impact on the prescribing practices of a doctor? My guess is, yes, it would.
I haven't looked into other aspects of prescribing in Victoria, Australia. I just stumbled across this. But, I'm wondering if they have similar rules for other medicines.
I started contemplating drugs such as anti-depressants, anti-coagulants, ADD-ADHD treatments, etc., etc., One could go as far as to ask for the DHS's definition of dependance.
In fact, I could go as far as to ask what constitutes a drug but, mostly my interest was based on concern about a doctors ability to prescribe objectively when they have to report that they have a suspicion that their patient is 'dependant'. Actually, we could also ask, what constitutes a suspicion, as opposed to a 'nagging doubt' or 'just a feeling'?
-+ Anna +-
dtlau ...@aol.comedy (DTLauria)
Perhaps this is just an Americanism, but what about the doctor-patient privilege which is supposed to force the docs to maintain complete discretion regarding a patient's medical history? Wouldn't this include addiction? Do you have such a thing down under?
************* - DTLauria "Give me one more medicated peaceful moment..." Maynard
sleeper ...@aol.combust (Fuzzy Fuzzfuck)
I think they probably have addiction down under.
never seen so many tugboats miss the dock...
- f u z z y -
sirthighbone ...@hotmail.com (neurodancer)
Who knows what goes on "down under"? Always been a mystery to me and may it ever remain so.
Cheers!
ND
anna_key ...@hotmail.com (anna keynow)
Well we're meant too, and this was an Australian site, not a NewZealand one. They're actually two seperate countries, although the Aussie's have wanted us to become a state of New Zealand for years.
Though, they'll tell you differently.
Anyway yes, in NZ, there's meant to be a thing called Dr/Patient confidentiality. Unfortunately, when it comes to certain people, and certain drugs, then all bets are off.
So, if I went to my gp tomorrow and said I felt I was dependant on the MSTs that I've been scripted for the last eleven years, he would have to stop prescribing them for me. Which is outrageous when you consider that the way these things work is by taking them every twelve hours.
So, he acts like I'm not dependant. It's a fine line too. Because I don't want to say I need more, although I do, because I don't want him to feel as though I'm dependant or, taking advantage. Simply because he went 'out on a limb' for me by taking me on, in the first place.
-+Anna+-
anna_key ...@hotmail.com (anna keynow)
Apparently, the rumours are true. There is addiction here.
I know, you wouldn't expect to find such a hideous condition in such a wonderful, wholesome environment but, there you go. No people or nation have escaped the seduction of that golden brown, that pink frost, brown sugar, or any other drug related song.
-+Anna+-
anna_key ...@hotmail.com (anna keynow)
I think you should broaden your outlook, ND. You never know what you might find. There's even some pictures on the net you could look at, just to get some idea of what goes on 'down under'.
-+Anna+-
dtlau ...@aol.comedy (DTLauria)
I know NZ and Oz are different countries, silly! I did quite well in geography and kick *** on Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuits geography categories.
But you did confuse me on one count: The first post suggested that a doc is required to notify DHS (Dept. of Health Services?) if a patient is suspected of having a dependance. The last post only suggested that the doc is required to stop writing scripts for the narcotic in question.
I believe the same requirement exists in the states in terms of cessation of the script, but the Physician / Patient privilege requires that they not share this knowledge with any agency or other entity. This is the doc / patient privelege aspect I was asking about.
Anyone else know about the US law? Does physician / patient privelege extend to addiction?
************* - DTLauria "Give me one more medicated peaceful moment..." Maynard
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