[A prescription for yourself or acquaintances, a good idea?].

Many doctors regularly write a prescription for themselves or for family members or friends. In this article, we discuss the legal and ethical considerations surrounding these prescriptions. We also discuss the role of the pharmacist who receives the prescription. Although there is no legal obstacle, codes of conduct and guidelines state that prescribing to acquaintances or yourself is undesirable, especially because it is often not possible to maintain sufficient professional distance, necessary to provide proper treatment. If the GP or other care providers have no knowledge of the prescription and no medical file is kept, undesirable situations may arise for the patient. A prescription for yourself or acquaintances can be made occasionally and under special circumstances (acute situation, no serious problem, short-term), but then requires a quick transfer of treatment to regular practitioners.