Hi, I have a scenario regarding 'breaking patient confidentiality'... i would like to know how this situation should be handled.
'A patient brings in a prescription for herself for Exforge 5/80 and bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg tablets. you note from her PMR that she has not had them prescribed previously, and that her previous prescription was for amlodipine 5mg and valsartan 80mg daily. you dispense the prescription then counsel the patient. during this counselling, the patient tells you that the doctor has changed her prescription as her blood pressure is not being adequately controlled (the doctor says it is very high at '200 over 130). she confesses to you, that she has not been taking either the amlodipine or valsartan as she finds the side effects unacceptable. she is adamant that she does not want the doctor to know she has not been taking her tablets as she thinks that "he will be angry".'
** Would you break the patients confidentiality and make the doctor aware, that the patient was not taking her previous medication... and if she had been doing then her BP would have been adequately controlled?
**Would you dispense the new prescription and advise the patient that she could potentially be harming her health and be puitting her safety ar=t risk if she takes the medication that has ben prescribed on this new prescription? as her BP could fall critically low.
** What should a pharmacist do in the above scenario? I am unsure whether i should break patient confidentiality or not.
Thank you for your help.
'A patient brings in a prescription for herself for Exforge 5/80 and bendroflumethiazide 2.5mg tablets. you note from her PMR that she has not had them prescribed previously, and that her previous prescription was for amlodipine 5mg and valsartan 80mg daily. you dispense the prescription then counsel the patient. during this counselling, the patient tells you that the doctor has changed her prescription as her blood pressure is not being adequately controlled (the doctor says it is very high at '200 over 130). she confesses to you, that she has not been taking either the amlodipine or valsartan as she finds the side effects unacceptable. she is adamant that she does not want the doctor to know she has not been taking her tablets as she thinks that "he will be angry".'
** Would you break the patients confidentiality and make the doctor aware, that the patient was not taking her previous medication... and if she had been doing then her BP would have been adequately controlled?
**Would you dispense the new prescription and advise the patient that she could potentially be harming her health and be puitting her safety ar=t risk if she takes the medication that has ben prescribed on this new prescription? as her BP could fall critically low.
** What should a pharmacist do in the above scenario? I am unsure whether i should break patient confidentiality or not.
Thank you for your help.
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