i thought prescriber's were only allowed to Prescribe vitamins etc, not controlled drugs, even Pharmacists are not allowed to prescribe.
Maybe i am wrong but i dont think so
im an independant/supplementary prescriber, i can prescribe anything to anyone for any condition "within the limits of my areas of expertise" (and with certain controlled drugs for certain conditions "only" under supplementary arrangements) the cd limitation was meant to me changed several years ago, still waiting on the governemnt to stop building duck house and cleaning their moats to get round to changing the law!
in other words, although i am not a doctor (and dont pretent to be).... within the bounderies of my experience, i can do anything a doctor can do... im just paid a tiny fraction of what they earn
I believe the difference is medicine or supplement.
If it's considered the former then prescribing must be done by a physician or a qualified medical herbalist.
If it's considered a supplement then anyone may say take this.
if it is a substance that is considered a medicine under the medcines act, then only a GMC registered doctor can prescribe it a NMC registered nuse or midwife (with V300 prescribing license) a reg dentist/vet or suitably qualified pharmacist.
if anyone that does not hold the appropriate legal authority provides another with a POM drug... they are breaking the law and can be arrested and face jail time
although, as far as my knowledge (good enough) of the BNF gioes, there are no current "herbal substances" that are listed under POM or even under the general sales list (GSL) as drugs/medications
therefore, anyone can "prescribe", "dispense" or sell herbal substances as they are either classed as supplements or even straight forward food stuffs (subject of course to normal food stabndards regs)
The legality bit is if something goes wrong then whoever 'prescribed' is legally responsible. Quite apart from the do not harm ethic, how many folks actually carry liability insurance that covers themselves for giving bad advice ?
but this only applies to those that are "prescribers" in the sense of the word... as discussed, it isnt a prescription as such, as they are not medications
of course, this doesnt stop you being held criminally accountable for your actions unto another, regardless of circumstance (as is the case in the recent court case highlighted on the NIMH page (bad acronym theyve chosen btw... i read it first as the national institute of mental health
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This forum is a very open place, I have no idea how many people have, or will, read this thread, and may take heed of any herbal advice given in it.
I have no idea of who they are, what pre-existing medical conditions they may have, how any drugs they may take might interact with herbs I say they can take for x, y or z.
indeed and neither would you be expected to know the ins and outs (unless you are a medical doctor or another prescriber as described earlier) of other medications.......
but then, me as a prescriber of POMs and CDs would still not be expected to know what new herbal concotion my clients have just picked up from the chinese herbalist would interact with their prescribed medications... of course, professionally i should endeavour to check them out
do any prescribers ask about normal diet? grapefruit, as a well known example, is significant pharmacodynamically
The law is supposed to change in April though.
http://www.nimh.org.uk/
There is also the controversy over the Codex Alimentarius. It seems like the relevant bit on herbs and supplements is lifted straight from an EU proposal that didn't quite work.
agreed the law is to change as the NIMH seem to have been demanding for some time. i suspect if regulation is tightened up and clinically significant substances are to be controlled, this will require a more formal and equitable training package as well
as NIMH themselves indicate, currently there is only voluntary registration and monitoring, so anyone can call themselves a herbalist and treat people.
i will be interested to see how the "medical" label is applied with formal regulation... even people like me have to specify we are "non medical prescribers" as legally the application of the term medical refers to a medical doctor registered with the GMC or a secondary 'professional allied to medicine' undertaking certain proceedures such as a "medical radiographer"
i suspect that herbalists appling that title will need to be a doctor of medicine as well as herbalist
it will be good as it will protect the public
as it stands though, there is no legal restrictions on writing a list of herbal products to take unless they are listed as being a POM or CD ...... even nytol is on the GSL
off topic and my apologies, but its an interesting topic, hence why i like my job (although need more money!!! lol )