No prescription, no physical examination, yet they are legally allowed into the United States. We ask the AMA why they have allowed this practice to continue. Most sites offer herbal alternatives and the more reputable sites list all treatments available for a particular problem. With message boards, chat rooms, and a wealth of resources available on the Internet, the public are more informed now than they have ever been. A patient can elect not to be truthful in giving his medical history just as easily in person as online.
Most sites have extensive information about the benefits and risks of a prescribed medication.
If they don't they should. When a doctor issues refills, a patient deals directly with the pharmacist. Many sites online do follow up questionnaires on refills to ensure there has been no side effects or the patient is not taking some new medication. Responsible sites offer more follow ups on their patients than the average GP does. Most sites carefully explain the contraindications with the product they are selling.