 |
|
Safe Healthcare Project
630 North Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 796-8295
(714) 834-3492 Fax
publicinfo@ochca.com |
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
Safe Healthcare Project
-
When
is it illegal to bring drugs into the U.S.?
-
What
are the dangers associated with giving medications to others
without a prescription?
-
Is
it safe to see a doctor who has a medical degree from another
country?
Answers
-
When
is it illegal to bring drugs into the U.S.?
It is illegal to bring large quantities of medication into
the U.S., or any undeclared quantity of medication into
the U.S. In other words, you may not smuggle medication
into the country. It is only legal to bring medication into
the country when you have a prescription for that medication.
Even then, you may only bring the specified quantity that
has been prescribed for you, and you must declare the medication
prior to entering the country. Custom agents will be looking
primarily for big smugglers of medication, persons attempting
to bring large quantities of medications into the country,
and persons attempting to bring in controlled substances
such as Valium and Percodan.
-
What
are the dangers associated with giving medications to others
without a proper prescription?
There are many potential dangers associated with giving
medications to others without a prescription including (1)
not knowing the proper dosage to prescribe a patient, (2)
dangerous combinations with other drugs the patient may
currently be taking, (3) allergic reactions to the medication,
sometimes resulting in death, and (4) other severe interactions
of that drug with foods that can cause negative reactions.
-
Is
it safe to see a doctor who has a medical degree from another
country? (ex: "I go to a neighbor who was a doctor
from Guatemala. Is it still safe to see him for my medical
care?")
No--it is not safe to seek medical care from a doctor who
is not licensed in the United States! Although a doctor
may have a medical degree from another country, their skills
and knowledge may not be comparable to the level required
for doctors to practice medicine in the U.S. Also, without
being able to verify how recently their license was awarded,
there is no way of knowing whether that doctor is qualified
to provide you with the best, most current treatment. Since
knowledge about diseases and methods to prevent and treat
these diseases continually change, your doctor should be
required to keep up-to-date and receive more education as
they practice medicine. It is best to seek medical attention
from a doctor who has a license/title to practice medicine
in this country and state.
|
|
|
