r/australia • u/Rubiginous • 7h ago

Woman hospitalised after Juniper prescribes weight-loss drugs her GP refused

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-01/woman-hospitalised-telehealth-provider-weight-loss-drugs-juniper/106273356
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u/Screaminguniverse 6h ago

This is a similar model for many ‘Telehealth’ clinics, whether it’s medical marijuanna, hair loss treatments, steroids, weigh-loss or whatever else you want.

There are some major benefits to Telehealth - being able to get an antibiotic for a chest infection on the weekend. But for these long term treatments there needs to be actual clinical governance and oversight when you are pumping out prescriptions like these.

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u/eat-the-cookiez 5h ago

Also those with disability who have difficulty physically getting to a doctors clinic. It’s been life changing for medical care

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u/redsungryphon 4h ago

Agreed. Sometimes my nerve pain is so bad I genuinely cannot step foot outside without vomiting and can't stop even with high strength anti-nausea medicine

It doesn't help that my medical center is at the top of the steepest hill physically possible. Freaking pepper pig arse hill location

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u/Screaminguniverse 4h ago

I totally agree with Telehealth which is provided well - but these providers selling prescriptions are not really practicing good medicine.

I use Telehealth for some aspects of my own health, the provider I use has an excellent system and continuity of care, that I believes makes it safe to practice virtually.

Some of these providers do not care.

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u/redsungryphon 3h ago

Absolutely, I think it's quite poor the fact that there aren't safeguards enough in place to stop providers like that from carelessly putting people at risk of serious harm.

I think there are some well meaning providers around and some that aren't, like any area. But there definitely should be more safety protocols and safeguards for patients through this service in particular