Doctor and Pharmacist disagree

[FrenchFarce]

We have just had a new pharmacist move into the town. I have a fairly old doctor. I had a chat with the pharmacist as he speaks perfect English about a problem I have and he told me the routine and told me to go to the doctor. This I did and when I took the prescription back to the pharmacy, the wife was so sure the prescription was inadequate that she phoned her husband who agreed.

I now have the situation that I am following the advice given BUT there could be serious side effects which I have not got the drugs for. I would then either have to go to hospital or back to the doctor. In this situation with two qualified pharmacists I am verging on their views rather than the doctor.

Is there any way I can go to another GP on a private basis? I know the side effects and really am very concerned about 'taking a chance'. I have other complications so all in all it is a bit of a mucking fuddle.

Vive le Can Can

[Will]

Neither doctors nor pharmacists are infallable, even in France (as I know from personal experience).

There is nothing to stop you going to whatever GP or specialist you want. The only consideration is that if the doctor you see is not your medicin traitant, or you were not referred by the medicin traitant, you get a lower percentage of the fees refunded. As a consultation costs only about 22-30€, it sounds like money well spent for peace of mind.

 

[suein56]

[quote user="frenchfarce"]

Is there any way I can go to another GP on a private basis?

[/quote]

You can, as Will says, go and see any Doctor you like on a temporary basis and be reimbursed a little less than at present. But you can also change your Doctor permanently very easily; either by going to the new Doctor and asking to be on his/her register (and filling in a form) or by downloading the cerfa form n° 12485*01from the Ameli site, completing it and leaving with your new Doctor for him to sign and post off to CPAM or wherever

Sue

[Kitty]

If you need help in translating medical terms, try this:

http://dictionary.reverso.net/medical-french-english/

I think that second opinions are useful.  Medicine is an art as well as a science.  Presuamably, as well as another doctor, you could go and see another pharmacist in another town?

[Ron Avery]

Presuamably, as well as another doctor, you could go and see another pharmacist in another town?

Or suggest the pharmacist phones the Doctor to query the prescription as he/she has the problem with it?[I]

[AnOther]

I agree, doctors are not infallible and also of course there can be personal opinions to throw into the equation. My OH is a case in point.

A type 2 diabetes sufferer we arrived in France and she had her first consultation with our new doctor who was quite shocked at the treatment regime she had been on in UK for a number of years and radically changed it with with very beneficial results.

If you are worried then I think €22 for a second or even third opinion would be money well spent.