Truth is I have had way more than my fair share or rude people in all fields, in so many circumstances it is not funny. In person, on phone etc. People asking stupid questions, people offering stupid opinions etc.
BUT at the same time, many people also are negligent and do NOT fulfill their professional responsibility, too.
I know that sometimes what sounds like an opinion might be a poorly worded thing when there might be a good reason for the question or opinion.
Truth is a pharmacist does have some liability for the medications (s)he hands you. A nurse who is anding your child a medication at school or camp or in docs office also has some liability for administering that medication. In case there is some mistake in any part of the medication, these other people also can be held to some level of responsibility.
Doctors are who Rx's the medication, this is true..and some docs decide what medications to RX based on a drug reps pushing certain drugs. There are more than one instance of a doctor writing a RX for a wrong medication, or wrong dose, or writing in such poor handwriting it is NOT easily read. It is a pharmacists job and responsibility, and also a nurses to be a double check, it is their job, by law, to understand WHY the medication is given, what the dose is and if it is a dose that falls into certain parameters and such.
It is the pharmacist and not the doctor who has the most knowledge specific to any drug. Docs learn a lot of things at school, a wide range of things, but it is the pharmacist who has the specific drug knowledge. It is the pharmacist who has learned all the intricate complicated details of how the drug works, how it interacts etc. And technically no nurse is supposed to give a medication at all ever to anyone without first determining WHY the medication is given, so she can look it up in her handy pocket drug guide and she is responsible and bound by law and nurseing professional code of ethics and conduct to know if this reason for this medication is "acceptable" and if the need is still there for this specific dose and if the dose falls into the parameters. She is also responsible in an inpatient setting to determine if the drug she gave did give the expected therapeutic results. THat is part of the pharmacists job and part of the nurses job, one of the many things they are legally responsible for, why they are paid, why there are so many steps to such processes. Multiple level "safety checks" - becuz noone is infallible.
I cannot tell you how often a mistake IS fund and stopped by useing this multi step accountability, LOTS of mistakes. Life threatening mistakes. And even with the multiple safety checks in place, mistakes STILL slip thru. Why? Cuz too often the professionals get lax, and patients get too annoyed etc. There is a long line backing up and people get nervous, embarrassed, angry, shy, short tempered etc. So the safety checks are not given the level of attention and seriousness they are due.
And becuz professionals ask the questions they need to ask in rude ways, or they yes, offer unsolicited opinions. But if you think about it, especially when you consider psychiatric medications? There are very very few set in stone medication protocols. psychiatric medications ARE "hit or miss" Unlike illnesses such as infections where there is a concrete definite drug for the specific job. AND in cases of children, so many many of the drugs are not tested in children....When a doctor Rx'es a medication to a child such as Ritalin or Buspar or whatever- the doctor is simply making a guess, offering an opinion and TRIALING this medication. The pharmacist might very well have his (or her) own VERY good qualified reasons to question a particular medication, in a particular circumstance. The pharmacist might very well have some pertinant relevant knowledge and input. Also keep in mind, some medications are used for multiple reasons, for multiple diagnosis. The pharmacist might need to know what the diagnosis is to determine of the dose is correct for that specific diagnosis. If a medication is being used for say bipolar, the typical dose is different than if it is being used for seizure control. And if there are warnings to be given, it is the pharmacists job to give you the warning. Have you ever been asked to SIGN that you either accepted or refused "counseling" when you have picked up a RX? The pharmacist must be able to PROVE (with that signature) that you were offered the opportunity to hear of any dangers etc.
Like I said, yes, there are also pharmacists who are just simply rude for rudes sake......just as there are rude people anywhere you go. I went in to pay a car payment in person today and the darned banker was so incredibly rude I wanted to throw my money in her eyes. Then I went to our county Health Dept to turn in some credentials for my file for a volunteer position and the receptionist was horribly rude. Then I went to pick up a salad for lunch and asked the counter person what is in a salad on their menu- the counter person simply said "I do not know" and then stood there looking at me like she wished I would go away. I left there, got in car, I had a green light but someone ran their red light and nearly hit me and they actually stopped their car and glared at ME! Rudeness seems to be the order of business these days. Everywhere.
BUT be sure there is NOT a good reason for them asking some of those questions, cuz there very well might be a very good reason for the questions....even if the questions come out rude or make you uncomfortable. AND.......remember- YOU were nervous about makeing the decision to start these medications------BUT the pharmacist does not know YOU. The pharmacist has NO clue how knowledgeable YOU are. And the pharmacist does know how strong these medications can be and the potential dangerous possible side effects, adverse effects and risks. And who knows if this pharmacist has knowledge of YOUR doctor ? Maybe the pharmacist does, and maybe not.
