Bad Patients? Bad homeopaths?

[Jagannath Chatterjee]

Dear Doctors,
I do agree that an informed patient may often be a pain in the neck (if not elsewhere!!). But I also believe that it is much better if the patient has a "good" and unbiased knowledge of homeopathy.
An uninformed patient often does not know what to report. Some cringe at revealing personal details. Some resent probing questions, they would rather just state a pathological condition and walk out with the remedy. And its really horrible to try and get the modalities right from a patient who does not observe him/herself.
I believe having seen a book titled, "What to tell your homeopath". If such a book exists then I think all doctors must lend their patients a copy to read before they come to visit. It is always better for them to come prepared rather than waste their time in the clinic rolling their eyes and grimacing.
Having been an informed patient myself I have had my own share of ups and downs. One doctor took a look at my case study and said, "Hey this looks just like it has been lifted out of a materia medica!" Some prescribed latin names so that I would not know and were frustrated when I did. But, believe me, I was always trying to portray the perfect picture. It took me 20 years, yes 20, before I could reach a homeopath who slaved on my case and came up with the right remedies. I must have consulted around 10 homeopaths during that period. My innate knowledge of homeopathy convinced me that the science was as infallible as the law of gravity. It was this conviction, based upon knowledge, that saved my life in the end.
Interestingly I comforted myself philosophically during my years of suffering thinking that I was working out my karma. My horoscope too reflected that those 20 years would be the worst of my life. Nowadays I often tell sick people to resort to prayers, good deeds etc. so that God's grace enables them to get relief sooner. Spirituality, I believe, cannot be ignored while trying to nurse a sick person back to health. It will also help the patient come to terms with inner turmoils and thus pave the way to a quick recovery.
Regards,
Jagannath.
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[Shannon Nelson]

Hi Jagannath,

It's true, to be a "good" homeopathic patient, some understanding of
the process is very helpful! But IMO better than handing them a book,
is to use the "patient education" time as part of the casetaking and
follow-up time. After all, part of what we need is to *understand* the
patient--likes, dislikes, sensitivities, mannerisms, reactivity, and so
on--what better way to get that, than by talking with them, about a
variety of topics? It doesn't *all* have to be about their problems
and complaints! Personally, I've always *loved* the "patient
education" part--and I love it from both sides of the fence! It's such
a process of discovery.

I love your closing advice!

Thanks!

Shannon