Los Angeles, CA asked in Civil Rights, Elder Law, Health Care Law and Medical Malpractice for California

Q: Does a doctor need an adult-patients consent to give them an anti-depressant?

Hello,

I am 64yo was in a hospital being treated for intestinal issues for a few days by an Internal Medicine MD I do not know and barely spoke with and today the nurse came in my room to give me medications which included four new capsules. I found out they were anti-depressants and they were the maximum dosage of 120mg, not the typical starting dosage of 40-60mg. The doctor had said nothing to me about starting any new medication.

I had not agreed to take any psychiatric medications prescribed by any doctor at that hospital and was not going to take any without agreeing to take them.

1 Lawyer Answer
Louis George Fazzi
Louis George Fazzi
Answered
  • Civil Rights Lawyer
  • Jess Ranch, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: You are not required to take any medications you have not first discussed with a physician. Also, if the antidepressants were not prescribed by a treating psychiatrist, I would seriously question why they were prescribed and for what symptoms, and what diagnosis justifies the prescription.

Demand to see this doctor and/or his/her supervisor and ask all the questions you need in order to be fully advised and take an active part in your own recovery.

Since I cannot determine the level of your competency, other than from the written question you submitted, it is too difficult to give you more detailed or helpful advice or counseling.

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