Prescribing on the list
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2002 1:32 am
Melanie said:
For this reason, it is important to NEVER PRESCRIBE on an open list. It is
irresponsible and unethical. You don°¶t have the patient in front of you,
you
have not taken a full case like you would in a long distance case. Long
distance case taking is very complex and should only be undertaken by
experienced homeopaths. It is unethical to prescribe for someone you don°¶t
have any any contact with and it is dangerous to take on the liability for
yourself, not only can you cause harm to the patient, but you can endanger
the future of homeopathy. There is not a doctor on the planet who would
prescribe for a patient without a consult
(She also recommends making a referral to a qualified practitioner.)
I agree wholeheartedly with Melanie's concerns, and was going to address the
issue myself but she beat me to it. (Thanks, Melanie, for your clear
explanation of the problems involved.) We have had to sort this out in our
practitioners' study group, when we invited people to come and have their
cases taken by the group. It doesn't work well and isn't responsible to the
patient or the reputation of homeopathy unless a specific practitioner takes
responsibility for the patient, making the final decision for the remedy
choice from the suggestions offered by the group, and staying in touch with
the patient in a focused ongoing follow-up process. As they say in support
groups, "recovery is a process, not an event". If we offer homeopathic
treatment only within this framework, maybe there will be a gradual shift
away from the quick-fix mentality, which we only perpetuate by giving
isolated doses of remedies.
That said, Alva DID get emergency help for her husband through the list.
Maybe such help could continue by making adjustments such as we made in our
study group: if a patient/practitioner connection is made within the list,
and the other list participants are seen as offering suggestions to the
practitioner. Alva noted how difficult it is in treating family members to
keep the detachment necessary to make good decisions. It really doesn't
work to treat oneself or family, especially in crisis--I know from
experience, as I tried to do it myself for years.
There is a list of certified North American practitioners at
www.homeopathicdirectory.com. I pass this address on to anyone who wants
referrals.
Happy New Age!
Charlotte
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
For this reason, it is important to NEVER PRESCRIBE on an open list. It is
irresponsible and unethical. You don°¶t have the patient in front of you,
you
have not taken a full case like you would in a long distance case. Long
distance case taking is very complex and should only be undertaken by
experienced homeopaths. It is unethical to prescribe for someone you don°¶t
have any any contact with and it is dangerous to take on the liability for
yourself, not only can you cause harm to the patient, but you can endanger
the future of homeopathy. There is not a doctor on the planet who would
prescribe for a patient without a consult
(She also recommends making a referral to a qualified practitioner.)
I agree wholeheartedly with Melanie's concerns, and was going to address the
issue myself but she beat me to it. (Thanks, Melanie, for your clear
explanation of the problems involved.) We have had to sort this out in our
practitioners' study group, when we invited people to come and have their
cases taken by the group. It doesn't work well and isn't responsible to the
patient or the reputation of homeopathy unless a specific practitioner takes
responsibility for the patient, making the final decision for the remedy
choice from the suggestions offered by the group, and staying in touch with
the patient in a focused ongoing follow-up process. As they say in support
groups, "recovery is a process, not an event". If we offer homeopathic
treatment only within this framework, maybe there will be a gradual shift
away from the quick-fix mentality, which we only perpetuate by giving
isolated doses of remedies.
That said, Alva DID get emergency help for her husband through the list.
Maybe such help could continue by making adjustments such as we made in our
study group: if a patient/practitioner connection is made within the list,
and the other list participants are seen as offering suggestions to the
practitioner. Alva noted how difficult it is in treating family members to
keep the detachment necessary to make good decisions. It really doesn't
work to treat oneself or family, especially in crisis--I know from
experience, as I tried to do it myself for years.
There is a list of certified North American practitioners at
www.homeopathicdirectory.com. I pass this address on to anyone who wants
referrals.
Happy New Age!
Charlotte
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]