GPs could be at medico-legal risk if they ignore requests from online pharmacies for patient information when they are prescribing weight-loss medications.
The warning has been issued by the Medical Defence Union (MDU) after the General Pharmaceutical Council mandated stricter rules around prescribing weight-loss injections.
Online pharmacies selling drugs such as Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) will now have to independently verify information the patient, provides which could include checking with their GP.
The MDU said they had already seen a rise in queries from GPs about whether they should disclose information to online pharmacists.
Some pharmacies were already contacting GPs to inform them of what has been prescribed and asking if they know of any contraindications. Letters are often signed by the organisation rather than a named prescriber, the MDU noted.
GPs should not ignore such requests but should also ask the patient if they have their consent to share their information, the MDU said.
But GPs may also be faced with a circumstance where the patient had misrepresented their BMI or medical history, the MDU added.
If the patient withholds consent, the GP should then explain to the pharmacy that they are ‘aware of information that makes the prescription inappropriate, but the patient has not given you consent to share this’.
It will be the responsibility of the pharmacy to follow this up and the patient should also be told that the GP will be sending this response, the MDU advised.
In these circumstances, the GPs should also consider explaining that a general review of the patient’s notes ‘might not capture every relevant consideration that the prescriber may need to know when making their decision to continue to prescribe’.
The MDU added that these requests may come at a time when practices are under specific strain from high workload and they could seek advice from LMCs or the BMA about any charges that might apply.
Dr Ellie Mein, MDU medico-legal adviser said: ‘GPs have an ethical duty to share accurate and up to date information with those providing patient care.
‘However, when they are contacted by pharmacies for information about patients receiving weight loss medications, they can face a dilemma about whether they can rely on the pharmacy’s reassurance that a patient has consented to their information being shared.
‘Another issue is what to do if a patient has misrepresented their BMI or medical history to the pharmacy.
‘Our advice is that if it becomes clear there may be a risk to the patient in receiving the medication, GPs will need to discuss this with the patient and check if they agree to this being shared with the pharmacy.
‘If the patient objects, GPs will need to explain this to the pharmacy and it will then be for the pharmacy to consider whether the prescription is appropriate.’
Dr Mein added: ‘Investigating these requests places an additional burden on GP practices at a time when they are already under strain.
‘However, if there isn’t a robust system in place to gather relevant information before a prescription is provided, patients could be at risk and prescribers vulnerable to criticism and medico-legal investigations.’
A version of this article was first published by our sister title Pulse
