I'm not a doctor,no I won't give you medical advice

[candyshopgirl]

Why the hell is it that CS think just because I work in a gift shop that sells medicine that somehow I'm a doctor. I REFUSE to give any advice to anyone involuing medicine. I can say okay you have a headache or sore throat okay we have medicine for that over there. But no DO NOT ask me if there interacts with your prescription. People will start to give me very detailed descriptions of their syptoms.I usually stop them and say look I don't know I'm not a doctor. I will even give you the phone and let you call a pharmacy real fast(under 5 mins). I had one woman that kept up until I had to practically scream at her. Just think of the law suits waiting to happen if I gave out advice.

[NateTheChops]

We get the same thing working at a drugstore. Of course I suppose working at a drugstore it makes more sense to ask one of us, but unless you're a certified pharmacist (one of the guys in the white coats who works behind the counter with the large blue letters that spell out PHARMACY) you can't legally give any kind of medical advice.

The closest I'll come to it is to tell someone about a product that I have personally tried and know works. But I cover my ass with a quick, "This is not an official recommendation you'll need to talk to the pharmacist or your doctor about that."

[terana]

I get that all the time working the otc at my walmart. I always tell them I'm sorry I can not give medical advise, nor can I tell you what I use, nor can I tell you which ones sells the best. I don't want to get fired, sued and have the store sued because someone took what I said as medical advise. I tell them to either call the pharmist in the morning or if it can't wait call the hospital and ask them. I hate he ones that get mad at me.

[Moggie]

I do some first aid work on-site for a history club (Hello SCA-folks), and it's been drilled into our heads over and over that no insurance in the world, no Good Samaritan Law, will ever cover you if you try to dispense any kind of meds.

The easy way around it for me is to point to my bag and say "There's stuff in there. Find what you need, read the label and follow the directions." and then walk away.

Some folks get steamed about it but I'm too pretty to go to jail for them.

[kiwiwinelover]

Some folks get steamed about it but I'm too pretty to go to jail for them.

Amen to that sister

[Nyx]

Closest I ever came to being asked medical advice was when a woman wanted to know if she could eat the stamp ink. I just told her I didn't recommend it.

[HALFHUMANHALFZOMBIE]

I dunno

Being in a store that also sell medication it's not unusual based on what you described here. People are looking after their health and finding certain drugs there might trigger them to find more about the information for that drug. You're obviously not expected to be trained on medication knowledge and it could get on your nerves I can Imagine. You had the courtesy to go over your way to let them call the pharmacist over the phone which I appreciate? I hate when they don't listen and you have to get it through their thick heads the reason why you can't give them medical advice

[batmoody]

I took a phone call once from this lady asking if we sold sanitary pads. All I could think to tell her was that we sold maxi pads, which are sometimes called sanitary napkins.

She told me there was a difference and she needed to know if we sold sanitary pads.

I told her that no where on the packaging are they called sanitary pads, they all maxi pads.

Then she went into this detailed description about what they were for. Her mother had a yeast infection and she was given some suppositories by her doctor. On the instructions it said to wear a sanitary pad.

I'm no doctor, but I told her i was pretty sure it just meant some kind of pad to control any leaking that might occur.

I couldn't beleive I was even having this discussion with a customer over the phone!

But seriously, is there a difference? I hope my suggestion didn't cause her to get gangreen or something because they weren't "sanitary".

[Buglady]

No difference. Just older terminology.

(Digression the first - One of my first aid courses specifically recommended maxi pads (etc) as handy substitutes for pressure bandages in emergencies. They are not *sterile*, but they're a hell of a lot cleaner AND more absorbent than, say, a wadded up shirt or dish towel! Have also heard stories, possibly not true, about medics using tampons as field dressings for gunshot wounds).

(Digression the second - I currently work in a pet food store. We also sell various doggie items including the little sanitary panties for females in heat. You wouldn't believe how horrified some customers get when they realize the directions on the panties say to use a regular - i.e. human - mini pad for the absorbent part. What, do they think a company makes little doggie Kotex? Actually, maybe I should go buy a bulk box of Kotex at Costco and repackage them myself... $$$! Also, not sure what they don't get the poor little beast spayed if they are so grossed out. I'm sure it would be a relief all around. We do have some show dogs, but not so may as all that).

[friendofjimmyk]

(Hello SCA-folks),.

My aunt and uncle belonged to the SCA. I don't know if they are still members, but that's how they met.

They were at an event, not together. My uncle saw my aunt and walked up to her and asked her name. Her name is Chris and he had some musical instrument with him and started playing her a song using the "C" string. That string is around her wedding ring.

I think that's how the story goes. It's something romantically similar.

[Gawdzillers]

Have also heard stories, possibly not true, about medics using tampons as field dressings for gunshot wounds).

You can do that in that newfangled vidya-game Army Of Two. Your buddy gets shot, and you rush over and jam a tampon in there while he tries to run away from the light.

[crazylegs]

Have also heard stories, possibly not true, about medics using tampons as field dressings for gunshot wounds).

I woudn't advise ramming a foreign object into a wound but sanitary towels/pads are excellent dressings. They're highly absorbant, sterile and a decent size.

[Misanthropical]

But seriously, is there a difference? I hope my suggestion didn't cause her to get gangreen or something because they weren't "sanitary".

I think that sanitary napkins are what they use to call maxi pads that had to be worn with a belt, since there was no sticky surface on the pad to make them stay in place at the time. So, if someone is in their 60's they will probably remember them being sanitary napkins and the belt that was used with them.

[Primer]

I think that sanitary napkins are what they use to call maxi pads that had to be worn with a belt, since there was no sticky surface on the pad to make them stay in place at the time. So, if someone is in their 60's they will probably remember them being sanitary napkins and the belt that was used with them.

Warning:
may be required ahead:
















Why do you think the slang is "being on the rag"??
Before sanitary napkins existed, well.....


<Primer is SO looking forward to menopause!>

[Jack Doe]

No difference. Just older terminology.

(Digression the first - One of my first aid courses specifically recommended maxi pads (etc) as handy substitutes for pressure bandages in emergencies. They are not *sterile*, but they're a hell of a lot cleaner AND more absorbent than, say, a wadded up shirt or dish towel! Have also heard stories, possibly not true, about medics using tampons as field dressings for gunshot wounds).

Actually, Kotex began as a company back in WWI manufacturing field dressings for wounds. When the war was over, you had this company that made extremely clean, absorbent, and compact bandages and went "Hmmm...who could we sell our surplus stock to?" and so began the maxi revolution.

Back on topic, no I'm not a doctor, and if you take that and die, it will 1: Not be my fault, and 2: I will laugh.