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Episode 9 - Off-label prescribing in functional medicine: why informed consent and defensibility are key

Episode 9 - Off-label prescribing in functional medicine: why informed consent and defensibility are key

Confidence To Thrive - a podcast for ambitious healthcare practitioners and entrepreneurs
• 29 min
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<p>Off-label prescribing in functional medicine: indemnity, informed consent and defensibility<br><br>In this episode of Confidence to Thrive, Owlicity directors Christopher Cloke-Browne and Roger Houston discuss off-label prescribing and how functional medicine practitioners can protect themselves.&nbsp;</p> <p>They define off-label use as prescribing outside British National Formulary licensed indications or doses, and explain how standard indemnity policies often exclude such use, leaving practitioners uninsured and unprotected.</p> <p>They discuss the significance of Owlicity’s functional medicine indemnity with explicit off-label cover, the growing underwriting focus on detailed disclosure and “statement of facts,” and the need for contract certainty.&nbsp;</p> <p>Their discussion also covers the need to build defensible practice through evidence, enhanced monitoring, and transparent informed consent - particularly important with emerging, unregulated treatments like peptides - as well as the added regulatory risk from GMC scrutiny and third-party complaints from other clinicians.<br><br></p> <p><b>Episode time stamps</b></p> <ul> <li>00:45 What is off-label prescribing?</li> <li>02:25 The pitfalls of generic insurance&nbsp;</li> <li>06:19 Evidence and innovation</li> <li>08:50 The reality of underwriting&nbsp;</li> <li>10:15 Why peptides offer a unique challenge</li> <li>12:55 The importance of informed consent and disclosure</li> <li>15:24 GMC complaint risks</li> <li>17:04 Thyroid case study</li> <li>24:04 A practical checklist for practitioners</li> </ul> <p><b>Who are Owlicity?</b></p> <p>This podcast was brought to you by Owlicity Insurance Advisors who support your business ambitions.&nbsp; Owlicity advises practitioners, owners, and entrepreneurs of healthcare practises on mitigating risks so your business can thrive.&nbsp;</p> <p>Learn more about how Owlicity can support here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.owlicity.co.uk" rel="nofollow">Owlicity.co.uk&nbsp;</a></p> <p>Call us on 0203 988 8090</p> <p><b>Follow us on social media</b></p> <p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/owlicity-advisors/" rel="nofollow">LinkedIn</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/owlicityltd" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@OwlicityAdvisors" rel="nofollow">YouTube</a></p>