Should Doctors order Medications such as Morphine or Narcan for Hospital Patients over the Telephone?

Question

Without examining the Patient first?

Answer 1

No. They are controlled substances. A doctor should always look at a patient first.

Answer 2

It depends on the situation. Obviously, the best thing is for the doctor to be at the patient's bedside, however, in the case he is not, knows the patient, and can get a good description of what's going on, then it is acceptable to prescribe medication over the phone until such time that the patient can be properly examined and taken care of. In the case of narcan specifically, you really want to get that to the patient as soon as possible if it's necessary in most cases (one big use is for opiate-related respiratory depression, which you really don't want to wait for) and for pain meds.

Answer 3

The patient will have been assessed by an R.N. Nurses are legally allowed to accepted phone orders from Physicians. Nurses are well trained to identify if a patient requires morphine or narcan. The symptoms for requiring either medication are very clear. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I have ordered pain killing drugs over the phone frequently as have all physicians. We know the condition of a hospitalized patient and can do what is necessary.

Answer 5

Ask someone with an amputated limb, heart attack or dying of a drug overdose enroute to the hospital.

If you were one of them, wouldn't you want a qualified medical staff to carry out an order? If not, you always have the right to refuse.

Answer 6

My answer? David should still be in that hospital to watch for other patients to dive into that pool for him to save and hung to dry! Ha ha ha, isn't that funny?

Answer 7

in general no, but when patient has severe pain , it can be only choice, for example someone with burn in ER .