3 ms·

I read that. The part that concerned me was not being there and looking at the patient. Birth control can cause some serious side affects. Granted it's a small

I read that. The part that concerned me was not being there and looking at the patient. Birth control can cause some serious side affects. Granted it's a small portion of the population if I recall correctly but even so the patients are not doctors and may not understand the seriousness of answering a question incorrectly (or may not realize they are or their health could have changed since the last time they, say, had their blood pressure checked). Hence I'm curious what type of liability this opens them up to. Like I said maybe it's nothing / not a big deal but I was hoping if someone knew they could comment.

ghshephard 11y ago
Presumably a doctor would know all this, and would take appropriate precautions prior to prescribing any medication. And, there is also such a thing as acceptable risk. Incorrectly used, even over the counter medicine such as aspirin can result in fatalities (Reye's syndrome)
- danieltillett 11y ago
  Aspirin does not have to be incorrectly used to be a problem. Give something to enough people and someone will have a bad reaction.
  - ghshephard 11y ago
    I call out Aspirin specifically, because you have to be very careful with children/teenagers who have flu-like symptoms or are recovering from chickenpox. This is a drug that can kill in fairly well known situations, but is available over the counter. Just because a drug is dangerous to certain people, doesn't mean that it can't, or shouldn't be prescribed by a doctor electronically.
    - danieltillett 11y ago
      Aspirin can kill in a pretty random fashion too - it is just much harder to show an association in these random cases. The risk is low, but there is always some risk with any drug. Oral contraceptives are one of those interesting drugs where not taking it is more dangerous than taking it (pregnancy is much more dangerous than the pill). If any drug should be available over the counter and heavily subsidised it is oral contraceptives.
maxerickson 11y ago
There's legislation at the state level enabling them to offer the birth control without in person screening. Presumably some thought went into that legislation.

ghshephard 11y ago

Presumably a doctor would know all this, and would take appropriate precautions prior to prescribing any medication. And, there is also such a thing as acceptable risk. Incorrectly used, even over the counter medicine such as aspirin can result in fatalities (Reye's syndrome)

danieltillett 11y ago
Aspirin does not have to be incorrectly used to be a problem. Give something to enough people and someone will have a bad reaction.
- ghshephard 11y ago
  I call out Aspirin specifically, because you have to be very careful with children/teenagers who have flu-like symptoms or are recovering from chickenpox. This is a drug that can kill in fairly well known situations, but is available over the counter. Just because a drug is dangerous to certain people, doesn't mean that it can't, or shouldn't be prescribed by a doctor electronically.
  - danieltillett 11y ago
    Aspirin can kill in a pretty random fashion too - it is just much harder to show an association in these random cases. The risk is low, but there is always some risk with any drug. Oral contraceptives are one of those interesting drugs where not taking it is more dangerous than taking it (pregnancy is much more dangerous than the pill). If any drug should be available over the counter and heavily subsidised it is oral contraceptives.

maxerickson 11y ago

There's legislation at the state level enabling them to offer the birth control without in person screening. Presumably some thought went into that legislation.