This post is not intended to embarass/discourage anyone. Seriously, I hate to escalate this "discussion" to a higher level of discomfort, but I could not resist posting what I have to say to clarify a few things. For your information, I am a physician licenced to practice in the U. S. I have never practiced medicine on a cruise ship or with any other vacation operators, and do not have any interest in doing so at this time. For that matter, I have never been to a cruise ship clinic in my life, even though I would be very interested in knowing how it functions.
So...here is what I have to offer:
Fact #1: NO DOCTOR can write a prescription for ANYTHING if the patient has never been evaluated by the doctor. This is sort of my pet peeve, since I have been asked more than a few times to "call in a prescription for Mr. --- who forgot to bring his medication from his home." In most states, writing a prescription for anything for a non-patient (person who is not YOUR patient) is against the law.
Fact#2: As someone said, providing any medical care (writing prescriptions, or even measuring blood pressure) to a person constitutes "medical care" under the law in the U. S., and if the receiver of the medical care has any adverse consequence secondary to it, the physician could be responsible.
Fact#3: You can get sunburn through a window. It happens a lot while driving....not all windows, even those on cars, block much UV rays. If you want to protect your skin, avoid the sun...even indoors.
Fact#4: Since medical care overseas (especially on the cruise ship) is rarely covered the same way (if at all) by your regular medical insurance, I think it's very important to find other methods of coverage when you on a cruise. I certainly do every time by checking with my medical insurer as well as to take an extra trip insurance.
