Abstract
You are a GP working in an inner-city practice in an area of significant socio-economic deprivation. You see a mother and 3-year-old son who has an itchy rash all over his body. The rash is in his finger creases as well as all over his abdomen. You suspect a diagnosis of scabies and treat with permethrin. You recommend treating the rest of the family, which on further questioning consists of mother and father, two older siblings aged 17 and 18, and the patient’s grandmother who is 59 and lives with them. When explaining the need to treat the whole family to the patient’s mother, she asks you to prescribe all the treatment in the child’s name as the mother wishes to avoid paying the prescription charge. When you explain you cannot do this, the patient’s mother becomes angry, threatens to complain and states that the rest of the family will go untreated unless you prescribe as she requests.
What would you do in this situation? Is it legal to do as the patient’s mother asks? Do you have a duty of care to ensure the other family members are treated? What other options are available to help the patient’s family