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Asking a doctor friend to write a prescription?

W

wildfire

Well-Known Member
Messages
49
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi
Would it be legal to ask a friend who is a practising GP, to write a prescription for natural bovine lente insulin for me, although at the moment Im not his registered patient.
Still experiencing what seems like an inability to fall asleep at night and diminished awareness of becoming hypo, often getting readings of 3.9 before I feel hypo.
 
Honestly no it wouldn't be at all aproppriate. Your gp friend cannot presribe for you over the head of your own Doctor. The best you can do is ask your own gp and discussing the reasons you would like it. But in answer to your question: it is not only illegal but unethical
 
Would it be possible to consult privately with him? He doesnt work from a medical practice.
 
You still would be breaching medical practice. You could dicuss it with your friend and ask his advice on how to ask your own doctor. That might be helpful? Maybe your own gp would prescribe it for you. Is there any reason you don't want to ask your own gp?
 
If your reasons are valid, why would your own Doctor not prescribe this?
 
alliebee said:
You still would be breaching medical practice. You could dicuss it with your friend and ask his advice on how to ask your own doctor. That might be helpful? Maybe your own gp would prescribe it for you. Is there any reason you don't want to ask your own gp?
Click to expand...
The GP has said he does not feel confident about prescribing insulin as he does not know enough about it.
 
I'm not a Type 1, but, if you are feeling hypo symptoms at 3.9, I wouldn't have thought that was an enormous cause for concern. Reading patient.co.uk, I see the following:

"
Definition
  • Hypoglycaemia is defined as blood glucose <3.0 mmol/L, but below 2.5 mmol/L is considered pathological requiring investigation.[1].............."


http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/emergency-management-of-hypoglycaemia

Do you have a history of nightmare hypos, with lost awareness?
 
You mean this particular insulin?
In general practice you gp would be called on to prescribe insulin for his surgery almost daily?? I think maybe you have misunderstood?
 
AndBreathe said:
I'm not a Type 1, but, if you are feeling hypo symptoms at 3.9, I wouldn't have thought that was an enormous cause for concern. Reading patient.co.uk, I see the following:

"
Definition
  • Hypoglycaemia is defined as blood glucose <3.0 mmol/L, but below 2.5 mmol/L is considered pathological requiring investigation.[1].............."


http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/emergency-management-of-hypoglycaemia

Do you have a history of nightmare hypos, with lost awareness?
Click to expand...

Previously I would get warning signs of impending hypo at about 5 or just below. The levemir taken before bedtime can often cause me to go low during the night, particularly when Ive missed supper and recently Ive found that my levels are going much lower before I become aware.
 
wildfire said:
Previously I would get warning signs of impending hypo at about 5 or just below. The levemir taken before bedtime can often cause me to go low during the night, particularly when Ive missed supper and recently Ive found that my levels are going much lower before I become aware.
Click to expand...

Have you discussed this with your GP, or do you have no confidence in him/her? What makes you feel your friend would have any greater knowledge to prescribe you what you want?
 
alliebee said:
You mean this particular insulin?
In general practice you gp would be called on to prescribe insulin for his surgery almost daily?? I think maybe you have misunderstood?
Click to expand...

The GP writes the prescriptions as instructed by the clinic consultant, and he says he doesnt know about the duration of actions and peaks of the new analogue insulins.
 
AndBreathe said:
Have you discussed this with your GP, or do you have no confidence in him/her? What makes you feel your friend would have any greater knowledge to prescribe you what you want?
Click to expand...

The GP doesnt really have confidence in himself. The animal insulins are reported as being smoother in action, with little peak and would seem to be easier to self manage.
 
Have you discussed this with your hospital consultant at all then? Sorry I didn't realise you were already seen by hospital clinic.
Surely they would be able to reassure you with the right insulin for your needs and discuss it all with you. Good luck
 
alliebee said:
Maybe you could in that case ask your gp for a referral to the hospital clinic where they have more scope to help
Click to expand...

After several years of negotiation and eventual argument, the consultant will no longer see me.
The synthetic insulins do not seem to work well for me. The animal insulins are available on prescription in the UK.
 
It sounds like you might benefit from speaking with someone at your hospital. Obviously you would like to discuss an alternative insulin, and it probably makes sense to also discuss your diminishing hypo awareness. There are threads on here about loss of hypo awareness where various T1s give the benefit of their experience. Alternatively, you could start another thread of that.
 
Well, it strikes me you need to find a way forward that isn't breaching protocols at best. I doubt your friend would prescribe over your own GP's head, but it's even less likely he will counter a consultant's recommendation. Can you imagine how his insurers would react if anything went wrong and there was a catastrophic event?

If relations with your current hospital have irretrievably broken down, then I would suggest you have to investigate a transfer elsewhere. It seems foolhardy to go along, with a serious, lifelong condition without the imperative benefit of appropriate medical support. I have no idea what the issues were (nor is it any of my business), but I think you have to look for a credible solution that keeps you well within the system. Going "off-piste" is more likely to close avenues and opportunities than to open them.
 
AndBreathe said:
Well, it strikes me you need to find a way forward that isn't breaching protocols at best. I doubt your friend would prescribe over your own GP's head, but it's even less likely he will counter a consultant's recommendation. Can you imagine how his insurers would react if anything went wrong and there was a catastrophic event?

If relations with your current hospital have irretrievably broken down, then I would suggest you have to investigate a transfer elsewhere. It seems foolhardy to go along, with a serious, lifelong condition without the imperative benefit of appropriate medical support. I have no idea what the issues were (nor is it any of my business), but I think you have to look for a credible solution that keeps you well within the system. Going "off-piste" is more likely to close avenues and opportunities than to open them.
Click to expand...


Its a minefield, for everyone. Yes I do need a doctor. We fell out over changing the insulin, he felt it would be detrimental to my long term health to go back to, as he sees it, an old style of insulin.
Finding a doctor who is open minded about using the animal insulins, how do I do this?
 
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