Vet won't write script for Fortaz but sells it at 10x the price. Is this legal?

[Bogertophis]

Thanks for sharing. I think this practice is unethical and possibly illegal, so I am looking for ways to punish this place so it will give up this practice in the future. Let me know if you can think of something other than reporting to amva.org.

I just emailed an inquiry to https://www.avma.org/ (thru their "contact" page), I'll let you know if I get a response. Since we're heading into a weekend, I suspect next
week will be the very soonest, but I'm not sure how much help they'll be, having now looked over their website. We'll see?

Meanwhile, here's another worth looking at? aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/

[Bogertophis]

This from Wiki, under "veterinary ethics" (excerpt):

..."The veterinary profession remains largely self-regulating across the world (e.g., by the RCVS and AVMA). This has caused some controversy as to why the veterinary profession remains one of the few remaining self-regulating professions.^[1] Bernard Rollin wrote on this the difficulty in keeping public confidence while remaining self-regulating, trust and impartiality are critical but most importantly is the need for a profession to self-sacrificial by putting the clients needs above that of the profession or professional’s need.
“Every profession—be it medicine, law, or agriculture—is given freedom by the social ethic to pursue its aims. In return, society basically says to professions it does not understand well enough to regulate, “You regulate yourselves the way we would regulate you if we understood what you do, which we don’t. But we will know if you don’t self-regulate properly and then we will [hammer you with draconian rules and] regulate you, despite our lack of understanding.”^[2]

[Lord Sorril]

3. Any law, code, or text I could cite to the next vet I see that will encourage him to write the script instead of forcing me to pay exorbitant prices?

No one can force a Vet to write a prescription

[Bogertophis]

No one can force a Vet to write a prescription

You're right I guess, but then they shouldn't take our money for the appointment, should they? Since the appt'mt is required for the prescription & the prescription is
required for the health of our pet & in some cases, community safety (like for rabies vaccinations etc). I think it's an 'implied contract'. (I'm not a lawyer, but just saying)

[WhompingWillow]

From avma.org:

Q: If I choose to get my pet's prescriptions filled elsewhere, can my veterinarian refuse to give me a prescription?

A: AVMA’s Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics require that veterinarians provide prescriptions to clients upon request in lieu of dispensing a drug when a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists and the veterinarian has determined that the drug is medically necessary. Additionally, most states have laws requiring veterinarians to provide prescriptions upon request.

-- Not sure what state you live in OP? Nevermind, just saw Nevada.

[Bogertophis]

BINGO! Thanks, WhompingWillow! That's what I thought & couldn't find.

[WhompingWillow]

This link may be helpful, as it lists specific state statutes regarding veterinary care and prescriptions. Looks like Nevada requires vets to follow AVMA's guidelines regarding prescriptions.

https://www.avma.org/advocacy/state-...ription-orders

[Bogertophis]

https://www.avma.org/advocacy/state-...ription-orders And Nevada is on this list of states. Sadly, not all states are on the list.

The chart includes state-specific comments like: "Failure to provide a prescription upon client request in appropriate circumstances could be considered unprofessional conduct, and a ground for discipline against the license."

LOL, WW, you beat me to it...

[Bogertophis]

....

2. I'm considering writing a complaint for malpractice. I don't have a problem with the clinic selling the medication, but I do have a problem with them forcing me to buy from them. Any other places I could complain about this practice?

3. Any law, code, or text I could cite to the next vet I see that will encourage him to write the script instead of forcing me to pay exorbitant prices? ...

So, leocrespo (OP): if you like this vet & wish to stay with them, I'd remind them of the above guidelines & see if that doesn't change their mind & limber up the hand they write with. But if you've "left the building" just report this incident...but it's usually better not to burn any bridges. Perhaps they just need reminded...

[Crowfingers]

Working in the veterinary profession I'd like to add some things...

(1) Office managers should not have the power to over-rule the veterinarian, but some vets are basically bullied by practice managers/owners - it is not as common in a good practice (From my own experience I will only work or take my pets to AAHA Certified Vets [~15% of the nations clinics]. AAHA clinics go through a rigorous credentialing process and every 3 year inspections)

(2) Legally they can't force you to buy from them, unfortunately it sounds like the management has decided not to adhere to ethics in this case and hopes no one questions them too much- a vet can loose their license for refusing treatment unless the reasons are explicitly unethical and in these cases it has to be documented extensively for legal reasons - de-barking dogs, euthanizing a healthy pet for convenience, removing teeth / claws for biting or furniture scratching - though declawing cats is still legal in the US some refuse to do it due to the immense pain the cats go through and how unnecessary it is

(3)While I agree that a script could easily have been written since ceftazidime isn't a controlled drug (don't get me started on all the FDA hoops for that!)- it is also a sensitive medication that needs reconstituted and stored properly in order to have any effect. I'm sure you are smart enough to follow directions since you are comfortable giving injections, but soooo many people just can't. Meds that are pre-preped at the needed dose have less margin of error.

(4) Yes the reason most vets prefer you get meds from them is to make money - it is a business after all and the pharmacy is a big chunk, just like surgery - clinics loose a lot of money to both human and online pharmacies - but also because there ARE online pharmacies and warehouses' that don't store meds correctly and then you risk your pet getting the meds this way.

I have direct experience with a client buying insulin from a popular online pet pharmacy, we couldn't figure out why the pet's blood sugar was so hard to balance. She was swinging between so low as to be nearly unconscious to so high to be having seizures...when hospitalized on an insulin drip she was stable. As soon as she went home, her glucose would go crazy again. After weeks of being in and out of the hospital and the owner being at her wits end, we finally found out that her insulin was not being stored or shipped refrigerated.

On a final note, the vets themselves don't get kickbacks for things like prescription food and medications. At most the clinic gets free samples and catered lunches from the drug reps. There are safe online pharmacies out there, if your vet works with them. I can PM you more info if its wanted

Most of us care about your pets' health not making money, compared to human medicine they make much less money on average. There are some out there that don't, but when you find those ones, just change vets. Specialists will tend to get paid more, as since they have done the schooling their services tend to cost more. Getting an MRI for you dog is going to cost more then getting xrays at a regular practice.