Doctor sounds alarm over online pill pushers

General practitioners are warning about the dangers of instant online prescriptions, with some dishing out prescriptions for medicinal cannabis, antidepressants and sedatives within minutes.

Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Anita Muñoz, fears some people prescribing medications are “failing in their duty of care”.

Press PLAY below to hear why GPs are concerned

“There are instances in which patients can have very brief encounters with people via telephone, or certainly not face-to-face, and be prescribed medications that we would warn have significant side effects and the prescription of which needs to be taken very seriously,” she told Ross and Russel.

“What we’re talking about is instances in which … a prescription is being issued without, I would suggest, appropriate history and examination, and explanation of the pros and cons, and alternatives, of that drug.”