Glucosamine for osteoarthritis of the knee

Abstract

You will come under pressure to 'bend' the law. Common examples when I was in practice included: ■ 'Doc, the chemist said that if you just add "SP" to the script, I'll get the tablets much cheaper' or 'Doc, I'm told that if you ring to get a special authority…' ■ 'My mother overseas can't afford to buy the tablets she needs over there. Give me a script in my name and I'll get it filled here and send them to her.' ■ 'My mum's/dad's on Repat. Write the script in her/his name and I'll get the medicine cheaper.' To agree to such requests is not compassionately 'bending' the law, it is fraud. It is criminal fraud, because it would satisfy the test of mens rea (literally, guilty mind). You clearly knew that you were issuing a document which would enable a Commonwealth benefit to be obtained improperly. Penalties can be heavy.