Report on performance
Scenario 1
The patient was a 31-year-old female who was on a methadone program. The patient presented asking for prescriptions for Valium and Panadeine Forte. The patient was HIV positive and a sex worker. This was the first time the practitioner had seen the patient as an adult. The service provided was an MBS item 44, level D consultation and no exhaustive history was taken.
Transcript of part of the discussion with the practitioner reads:
Chair Apart from the treatment of the heroin addiction was there any other reason you were giving her Panadeine Forte? Did she have any pain problems or ---
Practitioner She asked me for it and she probably did have. Also it is very common for people in this situation to ask for Panadeine Forte and I am not quite sure exactly why. I don't think I was going to sit down and ask her why do you actually need it or whatever, because of her overall situation. I knew her from when she was a kid actually.
Committee Member Yes, but did you seek any consultation with any drug and alcohol specialist about continuing to prescribe Panadeine Forte to a person on a methadone program? Is that something you thought you should seek support to do or did you think it was completely appropriate to keep doing that?
Practitioner Her ongoing treatment would have been sorted out by the people that she was going to go and see.