Dangerous Ideas: GPs should stop prescribing opioid medication except for palliative care

Should CPD for opioid prescribing be mandatory?

Dear Colleagues, By the time this issue of Canadian Family Physician is published, we will have celebrated Family Medicine Forum’s 15th year; those at the Annual Meeting of Members will have decided on whether to support a proposal for a smaller, skills-based board; and your Board of Directors will have considered the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada’s (FMRAC’s) request to...

Corticosteroid prescribing in palliative care

Opioid analgesics in palliative care

The discovery of the opioid receptors began in the 1970s and three (μ, δ and κ) are now recognised. Most current opioid analgesics interact preferentially with μ receptors, although some have actions at δ and κ receptors. The revelation that opioid receptors are present on peripheral sensory neurones and immune system cells, has led to the realisation that the opioid system is involved in a hos...

Paediatric palliative care: challenges and emerging ideas.

Paediatric palliative care is an emerging subspecialty that focuses on achieving the best possible quality of life for children with life-threatening conditions and their families. To achieve this goal, the individuals working in this field need to: clearly define the population served; better understand the needs of children with life-threatening conditions and their families; develop an appro...

Extended independent nurse prescribing in palliative care.

Extended nurse prescribing is now a reality and its particular application to specialist palliative care nurses will allow them to formalize their practice of advising doctors on medication régimes and to work more autonomously. An education programme in a validated university is now operating for nurses who wish to become extended formulary nurse prescribers. Extended nurse prescribing for pal...