Chelle in MO Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Can you legally give away a box of insulin syringes that were obtained using a prescription? I'm thinking no. I have an extended family member who got the prescription filled, but didn't realize the dr. had written it for the wrong capacity syringes until after he got home. The pharmacy won't let him return the box (understandably), so now he'd like to give them away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlifemom Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Probably illegal to just give to anyone, but perhaps you may give it to some type of charity? What a bummer though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissad2 Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Try a local free clinic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Call the county health department, mine has a benevolence collection for exactly these kids of things. They pass them along to people who need it and can't afford it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Legally, if the insurance company paid for it for 'Bob' then only Bob can use them. ETHICALLY: I have zero problem with Bob giving them away since they are an over the counter item and anyone could walk up and buy them. It would be silly to throw them away IMHO. They likely came in a box that has a prescription label on it, but has bags inside grouping them into 10 packs. I would get rid of the box/label and just pass on the bags. P.S. I work in pharmacy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hana Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I have taken unopened, unneeded prescriptions and supplies (this was for fertility treatment) back to the dr. who prescribed them. He gave them to patients who needed them. That's a fairly common practice in fertility treatment; I don't know if it's legal, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I have taken unopened, unneeded prescriptions and supplies (this was for fertility treatment) back to the dr. who prescribed them. He gave them to patients who needed them. That's a fairly common practice in fertility treatment; I don't know if it's legal, though. Not legal in the USA, but I know it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 Probably illegal to just give to anyone, but perhaps you may give it to some type of charity? What a bummer though. Try a local free clinic. Call the county health department, mine has a benevolence collection for exactly these kids of things. They pass them along to people who need it and can't afford it. Legally, if the insurance company paid for it for 'Bob' then only Bob can use them. ETHICALLY: I have zero problem with Bob giving them away since they are an over the counter item and anyone could walk up and buy them. It would be silly to throw them away IMHO. They likely came in a box that has a prescription label on it, but has bags inside grouping them into 10 packs. I would get rid of the box/label and just pass on the bags. P.S. I work in pharmacy. Thanks for all the ideas--they're great! I'll look into them. Tap, how'd you know his name is Bob? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Thanks for all the ideas--they're great! I'll look into them. Tap, how'd you know his name is Bob? ;) They are all named Bob LOL:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 I have taken unopened, unneeded prescriptions and supplies (this was for fertility treatment) back to the dr. who prescribed them. He gave them to patients who needed them. That's a fairly common practice in fertility treatment; I don't know if it's legal, though. Thanks, Hana. That might work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted August 7, 2012 Author Share Posted August 7, 2012 They are all named Bob LOL:lol: Mine are usually named Frank. Maybe they're related to all the Bobs. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Legally, if the insurance company paid for it for 'Bob' then only Bob can use them. She didn't say an insurance co paid, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Here are 2 places to try: http://www.topix.com/forum/health and http://www.freegaragesale.com/medical.htm You could post then on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maus Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I don't know why you couldn't give them to another diabetic? The prescription isn't the same as one for the insulin itself. DH forgot to pack his needles one trip, and just went to a local pharmacy and bought some. Then when his dad died, his mom (who worked for the state department of health at the time) gave him all the still sealed needles his dad had left over. I *think* the prescription on the needles just lets you run them against your insurance, where you'd have to pay full price otherwise. It wouldn't hurt to check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyhomemaker25 Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Legally, if the insurance company paid for it for 'Bob' then only Bob can use them. ETHICALLY: I have zero problem with Bob giving them away since they are an over the counter item and anyone could walk up and buy them. It would be silly to throw them away IMHO. They likely came in a box that has a prescription label on it, but has bags inside grouping them into 10 packs. I would get rid of the box/label and just pass on the bags. P.S. I work in pharmacy. This makes me laugh. I had the biggest argument with my pharmacy the other day because I picked up my insulin but did not have a prescription for syringes. I did not know it had expired since I only filled it once. I am self pay but they refused to give me the syringes. My Drs. office was closed and I finally talked them into giving me a couple for the next two days.They said that my insurance would not pay for them if I did not have a prescription. I yelled at one point, "Dude, (and I never say dude!) I don't have insurance. There is no one to pay it, but me." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 In florida they are not a prescription item, so no issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 Depending on the size of the needles, an animal shelter/rescue/vet might want them also. (I have 2 cats w/ diabetes & just buy regular insulin syringes for them.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 This makes me laugh. I had the biggest argument with my pharmacy the other day because I picked up my insulin but did not have a prescription for syringes. I did not know it had expired since I only filled it once. I am self pay but they refused to give me the syringes. My Drs. office was closed and I finally talked them into giving me a couple for the next two days.They said that my insurance would not pay for them if I did not have a prescription. I yelled at one point, "Dude, (and I never say dude!) I don't have insurance. There is no one to pay it, but me." Same here in Washington. If you want them to run as a prescription, we have to have a current rx. If you want to pay full price cash, anyone can walk up and buy them. We have discount programs that do reduce the price for pts who have them filled as a prescription and they do not pay tax on them if they are a prescription, so this is one of the few times that a prescription item may be cheaper. LOL Pharmacy can be quite confusing. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdeno Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I am a non-photocopying, copyright infringement rule follower however I donate extra supplies to various places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 She didn't say an insurance co paid, though. True, I made an assumption. Usually, if someone goes through the trouble to get a prescription then there is insurance involed. To your point, it is possible, but unlikely, that there was no insurance co involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelle in MO Posted August 8, 2012 Author Share Posted August 8, 2012 Thanks, everyone! I'll talk to dh and we'll figure out something. I appreciate the advice and opinions! There were lots of things brought up that I hadn't thought of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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