The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 266 No 7150 p749-752
June 2, 2001

  The Profession
  PSNC
  In-store pharmacies
  Packaging
  Medicines supply
  Depression
  Locum pharmacy
  The army
  Methadone dispensing

Methadone dispensing

Irregular requests

From “It’s only tablets!”

It is not just under the circumstances shown in the case studies of methadone dispensing which may cause problems (PJ, April 21, p542). All the examples given involved the patient; the clinic was not mentioned. I bring this up as my local clinic has been the originator of some similar requests which it is well aware would result in breaches of the Regulations.

Occasionally a member of the “action team” (this has never been the actual prescriber, although dialling 1471 has confirmed that the call was made from the clinic) requests that I perform an illegal action (often dispensing one or more days’ methadone in advance and at variance with the current prescription). The caller usually tries quite hard to induce me to do it. My polite response of “Certainly, but I’m afraid I’ll need a new prescription before I can do it” has been met with abuse from the worker. The ensuing conversations leave me in no doubt that the caller knows what he is asking me to do to in terms of legality.

Is it illegal to try to get someone else to break the law? Is their assumption that they have the power to make these requests at all, cause for action of any sort? Could they also face criminal proceedings and the loss of their career if I accede to their requests?

“It’s only tablets!”
297/20

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