HC Deb 24 November 1980 vol 994 cc37-8W
Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that general practitioners are fully aware of their legal liabilities in respect of their use of MIMS publications as prescribing guides; and if not, if he will undertake to advise general practitioners of their liability in law should they use such publications to make or confirm prescribing decisions.

Sir George Young

[pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1980, c. 431–32]: Under their terms of service, genera] practitioners are obliged to prescribe whatever drug or medicine they consider necessary for the treatment of their patient—once they have decided that drug therapy is the proper course of action for them to follow.