Can your GP refuse you a certain treatment because they don't believe in it ?

poppyscorner

Hi all,

I have been to see my GP twice in the last year for two different treatments both of which he has refused to prescribe because he says he does not believe in them.
The medications I asked for are approved by NICE for use on the NHS and I have no health problems as such which would affect my use of the medicines.
I have deliberately not named the medicines so as not to attract any medical advice.
I want to know if anyone knows whether there is anything I can do about his refusal based on his opinion one of the drugs is always in the media hailed as a great thing and he hasn't reasoned with me about it at all.

Any ideas???

elsien

See a different doctor within the same practice?

meester

why don't you take his advice? he presumably has many years of experience and the best education money can buy.

Errata

Have your health problems got worse during the last year because you couldn't have the treatments you asked for ?

Nicki

Can your GP refuse you a certain treatment because they don't believe in it ?

Yes. Doctors prescribe not patients, so if the doctor doesn't think a particular treatment works, he isn't obliged to prescribe it just because the patient has read about it on the internet and wants to try it.

Options: see another doctor or ask the first doctor if he will prescribe it privately on a trial basis (but he may still refuse)

poe.tuesday

I would suggest you get more info from him as to why he is not willing to prescribe them.

if you suffer from a condition that requires such treatments, what is the alternative that he will let you have and why is the alternative that he is willing to prescribe different from the one you want?

If you still are not satisfied with his reply and you still wish to have the treatment then change doctors

Ephemera

meester wrote: »

why don't you take his advice? he presumably has many years of experience and the best education money can buy.

Like the two different doctors that told me my grumbling appendix (which later ruptured) was gastro-enteritis despite me not having stuff violently exploding from either end of my digestive tract?
Like the doctors who consistently, over six years, misdiagnosed my father's Addison's disease, telling him he was a malingerer?
Like the woman GP I contacted regarding severe PMT, symptoms including panic attack, suicidal thoughts, depressive mood, etc who told me it was my age (I'm only 37!) and that I needed to cut down on caffeine and exercise more. Right. I see loads of depressed people at the gym. It's the only place you want to go when you feel like that!

Yes, I trust GPs.
As far as I can throw them tied to an elephant.

They are just that, general practitioners. If you are not happy, see another one. And don't be afraid to ask why, specifically, your GP is refusing that medication when you think it would be beneficial to you.

And good luck!

Undersized_Rascal

Nicki wrote: »

Yes. Doctors prescribe not patients, so if the doctor doesn't think a particular treatment works, he isn't obliged to prescribe it just because the patient has read about it on the internet and wants to try it.

Options: see another doctor or ask the first doctor if he will prescribe it privately on a trial basis (b5ut he may still refuse)

doctors won't give you a zyban to stop smoking if you're too skinny
they won't give you habit forming drugs unless neccesary so if you're looking for a valium or strong painkillers..... If you have an ailment surely he can suggest something else,
don't believe all the hype about prescription drugs....ALOT are very beneficial but about 10% of a drug company budget is spent on R&D and 30% on marketing & admin....( those % may be slightly off but there is a very skewed proportion spent on marketing)

mymatebob

poppyscorner wrote: »

Hi all,

I have been to see my GP twice in the last year for two different treatments both of which he has refused to prescribe because he says he does not believe in them.
The medications I asked for are approved by NICE for use on the NHS and I have no health problems as such which would affect my use of the medicines.
I have deliberately not named the medicines so as not to attract any medical advice.
I want to know if anyone knows whether there is anything I can do about his refusal based on his opinion one of the drugs is always in the media hailed as a great thing and he hasn't reasoned with me about it at all.

Any ideas???

I am not sure if I understand this but did you go to your doctor and say I have problem x and I need treatment y - and he/she disagreed?

Did you get any medication, treatment, follow up from your GP or did they just say - go away?

Seems a bit odd.

Undersized_Rascal

Ephemera wrote: »

Like the two different doctors that told me my grumbling appendix (which later ruptured) was gastro-enteritis despite me not having stuff violently exploding from either end of my digestive tract?
Like the doctors who consistently, over six years, misdiagnosed my father's Addison's disease, telling him he was a malingerer?
Like the woman GP I contacted regarding severe PMT, symptoms including panic attack, suicidal thoughts, depressive mood, etc who told me it was my age (I'm only 37!) and that I needed to cut down on caffeine and exercise more. Right. I see loads of depressed people at the gym. It's the only place you want to go when you feel like that!

Yes, I trust GPs.
As far as I can throw them tied to an elephant.

They are just that, general practitioners. If you are not happy, see another one. And don't be afraid to ask why, specifically, your GP is refusing that medication when you think it would be beneficial to you.

And good luck!

Caffeine increases anxiety, exercise is a very effective form of relaxation for me personally
...........The answer is not always in a pill
Although your GP could have been a bit more sympathetic than that

flower7

Yes a GP can refuse to give you medicine but then you have a right to see another GP.