I have pink eye, why won't my doctor call in a prescription over the phone?

I am a mother of 4 children. Over the past two weeks, 2 of my 4 children have contracted pink eye: 4 year old, and 8 month old. I called their pediatrician, and she called in a prescription. Now, 2 weeks into this epidemic...I have contracted pink eye. I called my doctor, and they want to see me prior to writing a prescription. Yuck!

Pink Eye is highly contagious, and I do not want to expose other families to it by visiting the doctor. Also, there is a croup viris going around town, and I do not want to visit the doctor and expose myself/family to additional sickness.

Am I wrong to ask the prescription be called in without a visit?

Help! What do you think?

Some docs are a pain in the a ss about this. They don't have an obligation to call in a script for you, no matter what you have or think you might have. My doc knows that I have a clue so he's pretty good about this. Apparently yours isn't. He wants to A) make sure you actually have 'pinkeye' B) possibly culture your eye discharge to see what kind of antibiotic drops are appropriate for you C) the most likely thing - wants to suck yet another copay out of your already taxed wallet so that he can send his kid to Europe over winter break.

No, I don't think you're wrong at all. If I were you I'd be in the market for a more understanding doc.

Good luck to you - warm damp washcloths feel lovely on those poor eyeballs. Hope you're feeling better soon!

They cannot diagnose over the phone.

There are several different kinds of conjunctivitis (pink eye). You should go ahead and let the doc take a look.

Use the medicine that the kids got....

They need to see you in person to make sure you have pink eye. I know, it's crazy, but they don't want to hand out antibiotics anymore because they think people will abuse them.

That really stinks. I wish doctors still made housecalls!

because you don't need anything for that, you spazz. It'll go away. Relax!

Don't you have any of the kids med's left? Not that much difference.

Maybe your doctor is more stupid? Or may he is the smart one and its the other peds that were suppose to actually see the kids.

By the way...they make over the counter meds for pink eye now. Just so you know!

DIfferent doctors have different malpractice insurance requirements. Yours (obviously not the same doctor) is more strict, and maybe does not trust you to be making a correct diagnosis (could be iritis - looks about the same, but may need a different medication). I went through the same thing with my current doctor and a recent UTI. I knew it was a UTI, but he made me come to the office and give a urine sample (which proved it) before he would give a prescription.

With all the malpractice lawsuits some doctors who have been burned by them become extra careful which may be the case with yours . You may try using some of the medication you obtained for the children , it's very likely enough to go around for you also even though the tubes it sometimes comes in look awfully small .

He wants to keep his license just incase it is more serious than pink-eye

you need to see the doc. they cant diagnose over the phone.

They can't diagnose over the phone for they have to make sure that they have pink eye. You will be over exposing to other families by NOT bringing them to a doctor. It will only make things worse for you and your children. The medicine should kick in within 24 hours and then not be as contagious.
Go to the doctor, for your children's sake. they will only keep getting pink eye because there is no medicine to kill the virus.

He needs to make an accurate diagnosis.

Because its not that serious. Just use eye drops and don't rub your eyes with your bare hands use tissue. And wash your hands regularly.

your doctor cant give you anything with out seeing you first. In order to make sure your doctor is giving you the right medication for your illness. So you should go to your doctor. Some doctors are extremely busy and would call in a prescription but most like to see you.. Why?..because it puts money in their pockets

No doctor will prescribe any medication without seeing the patient first.

Yes, you NEED to go to the doctor. Here's the good news... Since you are going to the doctor (one of the most highly contagious areas) others may already be sick, and, since you won't be TOUCHING them, and you can WEAR GLOVES to fill out your forms, then you don't need to worry.

I understand your frustration, but since your physician is not the same physician treating your kids, your physician must take your word for it that the kids were being treated for pink eye. Even taking your word for it, he can't be sure the pediatrician was treating it properly and that what you have is the same thing and that it will respond the same...since you are an adult.

To a certain extent, he's practicing defensive medicine, but still...hassle or not...the doctor is right in the situation you are describing.

Call you children's pediatrician. Might work who knows? Do you have an eye doctor? Call them...

BTW: You are absolutely right NOT TO USE your kids' drugs give them ALL to the child in question. THAT is why we now have antibiotic resistant strains of stuff that can eat the skin off our bones...passing around antibiotics. I found it ironic that while folks who appear to have knowledge about what a doctor should do about prescribing to YOU do not know how to TAKE the drugs they have...argh!