Prescribing hesitancy for opioid medications
Core competency and ethical practice
Pain management is a core competency of medical practice. All registrants are expected to safely provide their patients appropriate relief from pain.
It is unethical and inappropriate for registrants and clinics to have a blanket policy to not prescribe opioid medications.
Refusing to provide patients with basic essential care is a breach of CPSBC's Access to Medical Care Without Discrimination practice standard.
A defined scope of practice must not be used as a means to unreasonably refuse care to patients with complex care needs.
Opioid use in treatment plans
While opioid medications carry an appreciable level of risks, they are essential for many patients' treatment plans. They should be prescribed judiciously, particularly in the following scenarios:
- acute traumatic events (e.g., fractures from falls)
- postoperative pain
- cancer-related pain
- palliative and end-of-life care
Navigating the challenges of prescribing
CPSBC recognizes the complexities involved in prescribing opioids, including determining the appropriate dosage and duration. Continuous learning is essential to navigate these challenges effectively.
Support and resources
- CPSBC practice standard Safe Prescribing of Opioids and Sedatives
- prescribing tools and resources for continuous learning
- personalized prescribing reports
- streamlined ordering process for duplicate prescription pads
For those hesitant to prescribe opioids, our medical consultants are available for consultation.
CPSBC continues to receive expressions of concern from pain specialists and palliative care practitioners regarding the refusal of primary care providers to prescribe opioids or assume longitudinal care for patients in need. Given the current healthcare resource crisis in our province, addressing this issue is a simple solution to meet a critical need.
