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Shortcomings in locum practice procedures
Author(s) -
Green Richard
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
in practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.211
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 2042-7689
pISSN - 0263-841X
DOI - 10.1136/inp.e71
Subject(s) - acepromazine , medical prescription , medicine , phobias , point (geometry) , ideal (ethics) , psychology , nursing , psychiatry , law , anxiety , mathematics , heart rate , geometry , blood pressure , radiology , political science
While working as a short‐term locum, a client asks for a repeat prescription for acepromazine tablets for a dog in the run up to bonfire night. You know that it is not the ideal treatment from a behavioural point of view, but other clients' records show that acepromazine is widely prescribed by the practice for firework phobias. It would be difficult to refuse the repeat prescription without upsetting the client and the practice, and it seems unfair to cause problems for this particular client when she could come in a week later and be given the tablets without any hassle. As a short‐term locum, you feel that it is important to fit in with normal practice procedures as much as possible, and the RCVS requires you not to criticise colleagues. However, your client is likely to know other clients who are being prescribed acepromazine tablets by the practice at the same time as you are refusing to prescribe them. With this in mind, if you refuse to prescribe the tablets, how should you explain to the client that they're not an appropriate treatment?