I am in total agreement with you, Cindy. This goes along with a discussion some of had not too long ago about pharmacists and insurance company claim processors wanting to be our doctors. Who gave them that right?

I certainly didn't! I don't ever remember signing anything that says the person on the other end of the phone processing my claim has the right to tell me what medications I can and cannot have. That is just about the same as SS calling your doctor and tattling on you for not taking your C any longer.

Why are pharmacists counseling patients about medications in lieu of patients seeking medical advice from their doctors? Is this because the patients are afraid to ask the doctor? TV Commercials?

A topic of discussion at a recent conference I attended was whether or not pharmacists are part of the medical team or had wandered off onto their own advising patients on what meds to take against their doctor's advice. Several of us were appalled at this idea. (One pharmacist commented he wanted to be "your" doctor ) It's bad enough that the insurance companies feel that they are qualified to dispense medical advice and decide our medications, but now the pharmacists want a piece of the pie as well.

Now we have miniminum wage telephone receptionists at a help line calling our doctors informing them that we are not following orders. What business is it of theirs?

It's just not right.

It's all about money.

SS didn't call my doctor when I quit Copaxone. And 3 years later, I am still getting information from MSPathways. I haven't been on Betaseron since December of '04. You think they know? I know my doctor does! LOL!

I am done now. *can you tell I am on steroids?*