A doctor may have good intentions when prescribing pain medication to a patient, but not everyone is a candidate for opiate therapy. Doctors need to be vigilant with care and check the patient’s background to see if he or she has a history of addiction. They need to know their patients’ histories and be aware if they have a pattern of drug-seeking behavior. It’s also important for them to know what other medications a patient is taking, so as to avoid interactions.
Doctors have an ethical responsibility to control the dispensing of opiates because these drugs could easily fall into the wrong hands. There are a few doctors out there who’ve been stripped of their responsibilities for illegal prescribing practices, but most are trying to do right by their patients.
Prescription painkillers can be dangerous in the wrong hands and are highly addictive when misused. Sometimes, patients who have bad intentions can be so sneaky that doctor shopping and prescription fraud go undetected. Opiate abuse and addiction have soared beyond the control of officials in many communities.
Painkiller Abuse Epidemic Fueled By People Who Desperate To Get Meds
Some doctors prescribe pain medications to ease discomfort and pain. They spend time with patients and assess their conditions thoroughly. However, there are some doctors who simply want to churn out as many patients as possible to maximize earnings. These doctors are not thorough with their exam and haphazardly dole out pain medications like candy to quickly treat them and get them out the door.
Perhaps they’re receiving compensation from a drug company and prescribe pain medication as much as possible to reach a quota. Drug seekers know who these doctors are. If doctors aren’t aware of patient history, they may be contributing to the development of a painkiller addiction or feeding one that already exists.
Doctors who freely hand out prescriptions for dangerous medications contribute to the drug abuse epidemic. Those who don’t need to know what to look for to avoid being manipulated by abusers. They can be manipulative and create stories about lost or stolen drugs in order to obtain more. They may come up with additional ailments and disorders or purposely hurt themselves to get drugs. A doctor with knowledge of the patient will be better equipped to handle this. A responsible doctor will terminate services for patients who are up to no good.
Recklessly prescribing painkillers can also lead to opiate overdose. If doctors are prescribing their patients opiates in conjunction with sedatives or other drugs and the patient overdoses, they could be held responsible if the patient dies.
It’s the responsibility of doctors to provide safe and effective care for patients. Most do, but in this day and age of painkiller abuse and fraud, they need to be more aware than ever of patients’ motives and intentions.
