Digest Number 1375

[Theresa Partington]

If a patient knows a bit about homeopathy or is a student/practitioner I
will often suggest they remain ignorant of remedy name until after they have
reported back and, of course, they can see the point of that. This case is
entirely different. I think you need to ask how you would feel if you went
to a GP or consultant and they refused to tell you what they had prescribed
or why or (even worse!) you discovered they had told a direct lie. These
days doctors are encouraged to be open with patients about diagnoses and
reasons for prescribing and patients have access to their notes anyway. I am
sure we can all quote cases of where doctors have been misleading or
evasive, but would we regard it as 'best practice'? it's all about informed
consent and professional integrity really, isn't it?

It seems to me that this person should be sent off to find out a bit more
about homeopathy from a book or have a special appointment just to discuss
it. If she is not prepared to do this or still can't accept a prescription
then perhaps you need to let her go. Suggest another therapy which she might
find easier to understand and maybe she will come back to you later. You
can't be all things to all people all the time: hard fact, but true...
Best wishes
Theresa
From: "Beth Landau-Halpern"
Subject: patient worried about remedy
I have recently seen a patient suffering from extreme paranoia, obsessive
compulsive habits, and panic attacks. She is especially afraid of choking or
being poisoned. She is a clear arsenicum case, but i could never tell her I
was giving her a poison. I wrote AR on her prescription packet, but she has
called asking for details of what she has been given, refusing to take the
remedy until she feel assured. Any advice on how to handle this? I feel
morally opposed to lying, but do want to help this woman. Surely others have
faced this dilemna.
Thanks
Beth

_________________________________________________________________
It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today!
http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________