Online doctors prescribed sleep, anxiety and other drugs within minutes without patient history
A recent test showed that internet-based medical services can issue prescriptions for insomnia, anxiety, muscle relaxants and antibiotics after only a brief chat, even when the requesters had no prior relationship or need.
In a controlled experiment, investigators posed as new patients to several internet-only doctor companies and requested prescription drugs. The services quickly provided medications for insomnia, anxiety, muscle relaxation and bacterial infections, with the entire process taking only a few minutes of electronic communication. None of the test subjects had an existing medical record with the providers, nor a genuine clinical indication for the drugs.
The Finnish Medical Association’s leader, Jukka Mattila, said the findings were unexpected and highlighted that although certain therapies can be prescribed easily, many of the drugs issued would not have been prescribed based merely on brief messages. He emphasized concerns about the adequacy of patient assessment in such digital prescribing models. The results raise questions about the oversight and safety of online medical prescribing practices.
Why it matters
It reveals how easily prescription drugs can be obtained online, exposing risks to patient safety and medical oversight.
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