can family give pt unprescribed meds

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Dec 21, 2009

No, this is illegal.

caliotter3 · Dec 21, 2009

I would write this up in an incident report to your agency and I certainly would notify the doctor and document that as well. I would also think a long time about whether I wanted to stay with this patient and their family. If the patient is unable to voice a yay or nay to what the family is doing, they are engaged in some form of battery by giving the patient unprescribed controlled substances. I would not want to be around for the legal consequences of this.

caliotter3 · Dec 21, 2009

If the doctor wanted the patient to have any more controlled substances, then he would properly prescribe. He must be made aware of what the family is doing, even if you don't witness it. You can use the words of the family member who informed you of this.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 21, 2009

there are some drugs that can ONLY be written, not faxed. But that is besides the point. I agree that the MD needs to be aware. Is the RX for the patient or someone else?

MaxAttack, BSN, RN · Dec 21, 2009

The doctor has a reason for not prescribing, and if the patient ran out before they were supposed to, perhaps there's something else going on (e.g., family members taking the medication).

The above posters have it right - report and document. If something happens to the patient and you had knowledge that substances were being given without doctor's orders, you would easily be liable unless you can show that you reported and documented the situation.

I love my cat! · Dec 21, 2009

A family of one of my pts who is 50 are giving him vicodin because they ran out of percocet,and doc won't write another presription for another 4 days,even after being told the family ran out. Can the family give unprescribed meds?I know its dangerous and id never encourage it to them but they give it when I'm not there. This doc is very strict. She will not write any refills for the percocet. Famliy has to go each month to pick up a prescription at the office each month, and the percocet is given qid; she won't even fax the script to the pharmacy.

Aaah, the wonderful world of pain meds.

Percocet may not be called in over the phone. It also may not be written with refills. This is the law.

Pharmacies will not take faxed Schedule II prescriptions. They will not take phone orders, except in an emergency and only for the amount to cover the emergency. A hard copy of the prescription must be brought to the pharmacy within 72 hours or the pharmacy is obligated to report the emergency phone order to the 'Feds.

Gone are the good ol' days of phone calls, faxes and refills for Schedule II drugs, sadly.

smartnurse1982 · Dec 21, 2009

Thanks everyone for the replies. I did f/u with the nurse manager who stated "u can explain that its not prescribed for her etc., but that its up to the family about what they do. Also she said "well lortab isn't as strong as percocet anyway. I said its illegal but she said" well we can't call the cops".

AlleeBooRN · Dec 22, 2009

i do home health and see this often. i encourage and inform the physican of what is going on, and most of the time the physician is already aware. a couple of my patients have contracts with the doc that they dont go "shopping" for pain meds if they do they are dropped from that physicians practice. i was able to get additional meds added to help with pain management ect..like mobic or naproxen but depending on their diagnosis it depends if they can have it. that has helped some and has helped them to stretch out their pain meds. it is difficult sometimes and when they run out family thinks they are helping and if they have done it before and nothing happend they tend to continue to practice that way.

glad you are aware of what they are doing and allows you to keep an eye, esp if they trust you and are open with you about it will hopefully encourage them not to do it....knowing every situation is different :up:

GOMER42 · Dec 22, 2009

If the prescription for vicodin is in his name (even if its an old one from another doc) they can feed it to him as they please, even if your doc doesn't like it.

Do you know where they are getting the vicodin from?

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2009

Why did the family run out of Percocet?

jessiern, BSN, RN · Dec 22, 2009

Why did the family run out of Percocet?

That was my first thought as well. Either the patient is being given more than the prescribed amount, or someone in the family is taking the meds. Either why, the MD should know so they can determine which is the reason and address is. If the patient has been on these meds for an long period, the dosage may need adjusting to met his needs.