Patient taking narcotic analgesics legal and therapeutic implications
You are preparing to discharge a 43-year-old male patient who has received treatment for a fracture of the right tibia. You provide the patient with a prescription for a narcotic analgesic to be used as needed for pain, along with information about the medication. The patient states, “I don’t need the prescription. My cousin just had surgery and didn’t take all of his pain medicine. I can just use his. That will be cheaper for me, anyway, since I don’t have insurance.” (Learning Objectives 3, 4, and 5)
1. a. Discuss the legal and therapeutic implications related to the patient taking narcotic analgesics that have been prescribed for another person.
b. With these implications in mind, how should you respond to the patient?
2. How should you respond to the patient’s concern about the cost of his medication?
Sample Solution
a. When a patient states that they do not need the prescription and instead plan to use the medications prescribed for another person, there are several legal and therapeutic implications to consider. Most importantly, it is illegal for a person to possess or use medications that have been prescribed for someone else. The medication must be prescribed specifically
by a healthcare provider in order to ensure proper dosing and safety of the patient. Additionally, any narcotic analgesic has potential risks associated with its use such as addiction, overdose, and decreased breathing rate; thus it is important that these medications are only taken under direct supervision of a healthcare provider. Further complications can arise if the medication used does not correspond with the original diagnosis or if other medical problems exist that could interact adversely with the medication.
b. Considering these legal and therapeutic implications, it is important that you respond to the patient in an empathetic yet firm manner. It may be useful provide further education on why taking another individual’s prescriptions is ill-advised while also addressing his concerns about cost without compromising your professional stance on safety regarding narcotic analgesics. You could start by reiterating why using someone else’s prescription can be dangerous by emphasizing how each individual’s medical history can affect how their body responds to certain medications so simply taking something from someone else’s supply may not yield optimal results (or worse). Then you can explain that obtaining insurance coverage will often reduce costs associated with drug therapy significantly but should mention this in terms of protection rather than savings - as people without coverage often pay much more out-of-pocket for similar types of drugs than those with health insurance plans (even when factoring in premiums). Lastly, you could suggest potentially affordable alternatives such as low cost generics or free samples provided at local clinics or pharmacies (assuming availability) as well as inquire about his income level so he may qualify for financial assistance programs through his state government or pharmaceutical companies if applicable
In summary, responding appropriately to this situation requires providing information while maintaining respect for both patient autonomy and professionalism standards related to pharmacotherapy management. Doing so allows patients like this 43-year old male feel supported in making informed decisions regarding their care while ultimately helping them receive safe treatment options with manageable costs overall