A Quebec telehealth platform allows patients who want to lose weight to obtain the popular prescription drug Ozempic in just a few clicks.
The Press was able to be prescribed semaglutide injections – marketed under the name Ozempic – through the Livewell website without having to consult a doctor in person, on the phone or by videoconference. It was advertisements broadcast on Meta’s social networks that caught our attention.
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Livewell advertising on Meta networks
Ozempic is indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but the brand from Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk became extremely popular after being touted as an appetite suppressant by influencers, contributing to major stock shortages there. last year.
To get a prescription for Livewell, simply answer a brief health questionnaire and submit a photo of your figure. Prescribers of the site – a specialized nurse practitioner registered in Quebec in our case – rely solely on the good faith of Internet users, reveals the investigation by The Press.
Verification is minimal, so it is easy to lie throughout the process, we have demonstrated.
A revised and corrected BMI
After entering fictitious measurements – a height of 5 feet 2 inches and a weight of 160 pounds – corresponding to a body mass index (BMI) of 29, we came across a message stating that Livewell’s weight loss program does not “suit us at the moment”.
The company encouraged us to check the data entered, in case there were any errors. We took the opportunity to adjust our weight to 175 pounds to reach a BMI of 32.
We now had access to the next step of the form, where we answered in the negative to around thirty questions: no history of depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety or eating disorder, etc.
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With a reported weight of 160 lbs, it seems that Livewell’s weight loss program was not suitable…
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But by changing this metric to 175 lbs it was possible to move on to the later stages.
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In the test, we said we wanted to lose 10 to 25 pounds.
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Livewell relies on the good faith of Internet users for the veracity of the information provided.
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Then we shared a fictional goal: to lose 10 to 25 pounds. We clarified throughout our responses that our weight had been a concern for us for several years, but that our efforts to lose weight through exercise had proved unsuccessful.
Finally, we sent a photo, supposedly of our template, taken from a royalty-free internet bank. The entire procedure took less than five minutes. A health insurance card was required to verify our identity.
In the following days, the prescriber asked us via our Livewell account when our last complete laboratory examination was and “if there were any abnormalities noted”. Invented answer: “Last year, no anomalies. » She also asked us about any active medications or supplements we were taking. “No prescription drugs,” we replied.
No blood work was required and no verification was made of our medical records.
The same day, a second message appeared in our inbox: “I have approved Ozempic for you! »
Tips and Warnings
We tried the experiment again, this time with a fictitious birth date. However, our real date of birth appeared on the health insurance card we submitted. The ordinance was also approved.
The online “consultation”, which consists of a simple questionnaire, costs $99, payable in advance. The amount is refunded to customers whose prescription is refused.
Our prescription came with plenty of advice and warnings. “Please note that this virtual consultation does not in any way replace a physical examination or an in-person visit to your MD/IPS [médecin ou infirmière praticienne spécialisée] of family. It is your responsibility to consult in person if your health deteriorates during treatment. »
Alexandre Banville, spokesperson for the Order of Nurses of Quebec, recalls that the profession’s code of ethics provides that a member “can only issue a prescription when it is clinically necessary.” Without commenting on this specific case, he reminds by email that, to determine this necessity, “a nurse must notably carry out the assessment required by the client’s state of health, whether by videoconference or in person”.
The College of Physicians, for its part, declared that “if a doctor issued a prescription by telemedicine without speaking to the patient or evaluating him, he could thus contravene several articles of the Code of Ethics”, adding that an investigation file could be open if a report is sent to it. In our case, no doctor intervened.
Out of stock
In 2023, type 2 diabetics had to turn to other treatments due to a shortage of Ozempic in several pharmacies in Quebec.
Health Canada indicates on its website that the shortage of Ozempic was resolved on February 17. However, the balance remains fragile: the manufacturer still suggests that pharmacists limit prescription renewals to 30 days of supply. Our prescription was approved for two months.
On the side of Novo Nordisk, manufacturer of Ozempic, a spokesperson points out that the treatment is not approved by Health Canada for chronic weight management. “Any Canadian who has been prescribed Ozempic should have a detailed discussion with their doctor about the appropriate use of the medication,” she says.
Benefits and side effects
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
The drug Ozempic was authorized in Canada in 2019.
The drug Ozempic, authorized in Canada in 2019, quickly became a tool of choice for treating people suffering from type 2 diabetes. It is designed to mimic the natural metabolism of sugar by stimulating insulin while preventing the secretion of glucagon . However, treatment with injections, which also affects the area of the brain responsible for satiety, has also stood out for its ability to cause weight loss. However, the medication can cause side effects such as stomach inflammation, gallstones and discomfort. A warning on the medication’s instructions also warns of a possible risk of thyroid tumors, including cancer.