A lady came into the pharmacy with a hospital prescription for Mifepristone aka the abortion pill.
Now its not something that's very easily accessible by any pharmacy or any doctor. Go through training and application to actually prescribe and supply it. So what I don't understand is why the hospital just gave the prescription to the patient and told them to get it from 'any pharmacy'. For all I know, I'm not even sure if the doctor is authorized to prescribe such item.
Anyway, patient insisted me to call the hospital pharmacy. So I called the hospital switchboard asking for the outpatient pharmacy, this is her response:
Her: errrr, no because we don't even have an outpatient pharmacy here.
Me: Is there a pharmacy outside your hospital?
Her: errr no?
Me: Is there another hospital nearby that you direct me to that actually has an outpatient pharmacy?
Her: Well you try XX or XX /hangs up on me....
You can so tell she was rolling her eyes on the other side of the phone. She hangs up on me before I could reply.
So I tell the patient and I ended up calling XX or XX.... they either didn't have an outpatient pharmacy or they don't supply it. *sigh*
Patient tells me to call the clinic she was in at the hospital.
Called the first hospital with the b*tch receptionist.
Me: Can you please patch me through to the XXXX clinic?
Her: Its closed.
Me: What time does it open?
Her: Its open from 7.30 to ...
Me quickly slams the phone in her face.
That felt good. Anyway, after numerous phone calls, couldn't get it for her. So I told her to see her GP for a referral to an abortion clinic and they should be able to supply it to her directly there.
More information here: http://www.tga.gov.au/hp/information-medicines-mifepristone-gymiso.htm#.U9MLcOOSz74
This happened to me too: had a lady came in and called every hospital in the nearby area, the doctor, receptionist, etc. They said they always refer her to a pharmacy that has it... but yeah, don't think you can just dish it out so easily. Its expensive too to get a box of 120 tablets and only give the patient 8. Also, isn't it against our duty of care to give out a category X drug to a pregnant patient? Not sure, don't get training on these things.
ReplyDeleteThe lady also was in a hurry to get these as she was going interstate for a holiday. Doc said, if you're not bleeding, take these pills. Luckily, the patient ended up bleeding. She was aware I was desperately trying to get these pills and was sensitive to her situation... doctor on the other hand was a clueless idiot and thought I was withholding medication!?! Bitch, I've taken mifepristone before!