The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) initiated a systemic investigation into the prescription of weight loss medication by a telehealth service following the complaint of inappropriate prescribing practices resulting in adverse health outcomes for a consumer with a history of disordered eating.

Wider learnings

The investigation highlighted the potential risk of harm associated with the prescription of weight loss medication to patients in a virtual health care setting and the importance of thorough, patient focused consultations, with clearly defined treatment pathways and eligibility criteria.

Clinicians providing telehealth assessment for the prescription and renewal of weight loss medication must ensure patient information is thoroughly assessed, verified and treatment flags, such as eating disorder behaviours, are thoroughly investigated prior to initiating treatment and when assessing patient progress for treatment continuation.

Telehealth services must have in place robust processes for patients deemed ‘ineligible’ for prescription weight loss medication due to disordered eating indicators and be provided clear alternative pathways and support services.

The rapid growth of virtual healthcare in Australia, together with increasing consumer reliance on telehealth services, highlights the clear need for development of national industry standards and an accreditation framework to establish consistent benchmarks to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality patient care.

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