do you tell the patient?

[mcgonigle_john]

I think if you explain to the pt what it is in their case you're
focusing on - try to explain why, what you'd like to see in terms of
response, counsel patience, things work out well. That way, it is
collaborative and by putting yourself on the line the pt also feels
that they can be frank and not have to try to circumvent your
methodology and rx intentions in order to feel themselves heard. It's
always the ethically right thing to do: transparency and honesty. It
the pts insist on muddying up their own case w/ excessive finetooth-
combing over and over their symptomatology I think we just need to
admit that for whatever reason I/we weren't able to engender the
dynamic from whence the simillimum could emerge.

John McGonigle, MD
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, Robert & Shannon Nelson
wrote:
homeopathic
of
I do
rather
your
missed?
Boericke or
know

[always.question]

What an interesting, thought-provoking thread. Having just recently
joined this board, I've been glued to various discussions (and rows,
or should I say 'robust exchanges'?) Don't know how many people on
here are from the UK - was prompted to put in my tuppence-worth on
this topic because nobody mentioned the Society of Homeopaths' Code
of Ethics (signed by all RSHoms): under 'Legal Obligations' it states

"A homeopath is required [...] to offer patients the identity of the
remedy prescribed".

So at least in Britain, to withhold the name of the remedy is out of
the question, no matter what the practitioner's personal view.
There is no guidance or comment in the Code on the question of
placebo, or on labelling.
SUSE

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "Theresa Partington"
wrote:
the drug
anyway.
and,
explanation
patients who
they are
make sure
to know
homeopath
is in
the
there is
write remedy
practice.

[Rochelle]

I'm from the UK and I didn't actually know that. (Shows I haven't read the
Code of Ethics for a while!!) I wonder how long that has been in force as
when I sat in on the Head of our college clinics he never told patients what
he gave them and he used to give a lot of Sac Lac.
No way did either of those practices filter down to me - just the opposite!!
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[always.question]

Hi Rochelle,
You can check it out on www.homeopathy-soh.org. Current edition 2004,
first published 1987 - but no info on when this particular legal
requirement was introduced. I don't remember hearing about this at any
stage until I joined SoH and read the Code.

I guess someone determined to 'not tell' could interpret it as follows:
offer patient to name Rx if they insist but point out practitioner
feels this could be detrimental, invite patient's agreement to 'not
know'.

SUSE

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, "rochelle" wrote:
read the
force as
patients what

the Society of Homeopaths' Code
states

[Rochelle]

They do actually send us the current Edition when they produce it so I've
got one somewhere- but seriously , who reads it!!!
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Sarvadaman Oberoi]

Rochelle wrote May 27, 2007 2:55 PM
They do actually send us the current Edition when they produce it so I've
got one somewhere- but seriously , who reads it!!!
This discussion got me thinking:

Code of Ethics under sub sections (1) and (2) of Section 24 of The Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973.

24. (l) The Central Council may prescribe standards of professional conduct and etiquette and a code of ethics for practitioners of Homoeopathy.

(2) Regulations made by the Central Council under sub-section (1) may specify which violations thereof shall constitute infamous conduct in any professional respect that is to say, professional respect that is to say, professional misconduct and such provision shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force.
Could not find any such regulation in India:

Intend to ask tomorrow under RTI 2005
1. Whether or not the code of ethics & standards of professional conduct and etiquette have been notified under sub sections (1) and (2) of Section 24 of The Homoeopathy Central Council Act, 1973, does the Department of AYUSH provide, or propose to provide, one or more of the following:

[a] “Drugs prescribed by a physician or brought from the market for a patient should explicitly state the proprietary formulae as well as generic name of the drug.” Or/And

“To offer patients the identity of the remedy prescribed."

Or/And

[c] “The disclosure of the identity of the remedy and the Homeopath’s use of placebo, as part of case management, should be discussed and agreed to in the free consent process.” Or/And

[d]“To tell patients the identity of the remedy prescribed, if asked.” Or/And

[e] “Responsibilities to the Patient, The Homeopathic Doctor & Practitioner: Is willing to identify the remedy prescribed to a patient.”

as has been provided, respectively in

[a]Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002 (Published in Part III, Section 4 of the Gazette of India, dated 6th April,2002) MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA NOTIFICATION New Delhi, dated 11th March, 2002 available at www.mciindia.org/know/rules/ethics.htm CHAPTER 6

6.3 Running an open shop (Dispensing of Drugs and Appliances by Physicians): …….Drugs prescribed by a physician or brought from the market for a patient should explicitly state the proprietary formulae as well as generic name of the drug. AND

Code of Ethics and Practice Revised August 2004 issued by The Society of Homeopaths, Northampton, U.K. available at http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/for-homeo ... sApr04.pdf

Guiding Principle No 59 "59 To offer patients the identity of the remedy prescribed." AND

[c] Texas Society of Homeopathy, Houston US, CODE OF ETHICS, Principle No 34 http://www.txsoho.com/ "34. Disclosure of the remedy and use of placebo: The disclosure of the identity of the remedy and the Homeopath’s use of placebo, as part of case management, should be discussed and agreed to in the free consent process. Comment: The clinical practice preferences of Homeopaths with regard to disclosure of the identity of the remedy and use of placebo varies considerably. Some Homeopaths never disclose the remedy before it has had time to act, some always disclose the remedy when it is given, and some make the decision to disclose on a case by case basis. Likewise, some Homeopaths use placebo as a part of the case management strategy, and some never do. Obviously, the discussion about placebo is complicated, as it requires deceiving the Client, and potentially charging for an “inactive” remedy. The authority of the Homeopath to deceive a Client in this manner was almost unquestioned until well into the 1970s, but that authority has been eroded and the use of placebo is now the subject of ethical analysis. If a Homeopath uses placebo, then as a policy they should not charge separately for remedies, but the cost of the remedy should be included as part of the overall service. Placebo, as part of a case management strategy, can be considered part of verum. In this strategy, placebo can only be used prior to the determination of verum (to “washout” existing influences, for example) if the Client agrees the Homeopath can time when they reveal the identity of the remedy. This approach is ethically justified on grounds it considers use of placebo in this manner to be part of the dosing of verum. If the Homeopath is using placebo to “washout” existing influences before evaluating or re-evaluating the totality, and the Client recovers, there are no ethical problems in charging the Client because the Homeopath is not charging for the remedy itself, but for the overall service. It will not be possible to use placebo in some cases because of the inquiring nature and experience of Clients with homeopathy. The Homeopath should strive for honesty with the Client." AND

[d] ALLIANCE OF REGISTERED HOMEOPATHS, East Sussex UK, CODE OF ETHICS AND PRACTICE PARA 3

http://www.a-r-h.org "3. Legal Obligations • To tell patients the identity of the remedy prescribed, if asked." AND

[e] ONTARIO HOMEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION, Toronto, Ontario,Canada, CODE OF ETHICS,

http://www.ontariohomeopath.com/code.htm "Responsibilities to the Patient, The Homeopathic Doctor & Practitioner: Is willing to identify the remedy prescribed to a patient."
93 PAGE ENCLOSURE: CODE OF ETHICS FOR HOMEOPATHIC PRACTITIONERS, TEXAS SOCIETY OF HOMEOPATHY, HOUSTON, TX, U.S.
Thanks list.
Regards.
Sarvadaman Oberoi

H 485 FF Ansals Palam Vihar

Gurgaon 122017 Haryana INDIA

Mobile: +919818768349 Tele: +911244076374

Website: http://www.freewebs.com/homeopathy249/index.htm

email: manioberoi@gmail.com

[Rochelle]

Sarvadaman wrote:-

When I used to sit in on clinics as part of my training one very well respected homeopath used to give the patient pillules on which there were drops of a Bach Flower Remedy instead of placebo. I thought this was a good idea as you can tell the patient about the Flower Rx you are giving. I have never known Bach Flower Remedies interfere with the Homeopathic remedy given but have no doubt that some will disagree with me:-)
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Dale Moss]

People who come with some knowledge of or experience with homeopathy are more interested in what remedy they will receive as well as how I treat. Folks who are new to homeopathy but coming because they're fed up with conventional medicine are often so used to taking whatever is prescribed that they show no interest in learning about their remedy. For the latter, I often wait until follow-up to explain the remedy I gave and why I gave it.
Peace,
Dale

[Irene de Villiers]

Dale Moss wrote:
are more interested in what remedy they will receive as well as how I
treat. Folks who are new to homeopathy but coming because they're fed
up with conventional medicine are often so used to taking whatever is
prescribed that they show no interest in learning about their remedy.

IMO - All the more reason to teach them why they are getting the remedy,
what it is and why it is expected to work - instead of adding to the
lousy approach experienced in the past from allopathy.
A client who understands - will also be in a better position to tell
you relevant things as they will know what's relevant:-)
So again - I maintain it is NOT in client interests to withhold this
information.
(It may be in homeopath interests but excuse me I do not count those
as anywhere near as relevant!)

Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."