Posts: 3,675,937
Threads: 734,344
Joined:
Sep 2021
Reputation:
5
Got a panicked call from a relative today asking if they were truly having a stroke. Age 45 Female NO PMH NO family history NO medications. Went to the local pharmacy looking for medication for bloating feeling pain between the shoulder blades and R arm numbness and tingling. When she described her symptoms to the Pharmacist for recommendation for best gas relief the pharmacist said these symptoms sound like sing and symptoms of a stroke and the person should immediately rush to an ER. Person denies H/A nausea or any-other issues but the above described symptoms. HOW IN THE WORLD IS A pharmacist GIVING MEDICAL ADVISE LET ALONE DIAGNOSING A PERSON?
Posts: 3,675,937
Threads: 734,344
Joined:
Sep 2021
Reputation:
5
what country is the incident occurred? While pharmacists have no right to diagnose any diseases, they can not give you any medicine without prescription either;stating that a pharmacist is a very knowledgeble professional and can act as "good samaritan" as well to recommend any one to go to ER (ALSO TO SAVE THEIR OWN BACK TOO). What is wrong with that? if the pharmacist did not give any advise the next thing he can say is sorry no medicine for you which might be even worse in a stroke case.
So what happened to the patient eventually? R arm numbness and tingling may require an intervention. What do you think in this patienyt?
Posts: 3,675,937
Threads: 734,344
Joined:
Sep 2021
Reputation:
5
with stroke, we need early intervention. In america, we educate people about hypertension and diabetes. This includes complications of DM and HTN ... this includes stoke. If we institute treatment for stroke at the earliest possible time, the better.
The pharmacist here is right, alerting the person that she/he is presenting with symptoms of stoke (maybe TIA)... i don't see anything wrong with that.
