Internet prescribing

[Liz Hennel]

It is interesting to review cases through this medium. Personally I do not have a major problem with prescribing for my own patients via email - but these are people with whom I already have had full consultations face to face, and have established a rapport over a period of time.
However, the difficulty arises when asked to sort out a case when there is no relationship. There are ethical problems associated with becoming involved with another practitioners' case.
Firstly, I do not have the patients' informed consent - this is a big one, and cannot be avioded. Secondly - the patient has no idea that they are being "discussed" in a public forum, which may include people other than professional practitioners - their right to confidentiality is being violated, even if they remain anonymous. Furthermore, I have no idea about the bona fides of the originating practitioner.
Recently we had a posting from someone stating they are studying homeopathy - but there was no indication as to how or where. The case was not presented in full (I hope) but did not appear to be particularly complex. However, it did throw up some clear issues about prescribing practices, as well as case management and professional conduct.
As we well know, classical homeopathy is not the only way to be a homeopath - whether or not we like that idea, it is a fact of life. Those of us who are not classical homeopaths will recognise that colleagues of other schools nonetheless get positive results for their patients. But I think we all get worried when we come across individuals who appear to be practising in isolation, with little or no formal homeopathic education. However, in the UK it is still permissable to be self-educated in Homeopathy and to be accepted, after examination and interview, onto a professional register.
In such a case I felt it was more helpful to offer some insights into the homeopathic philosophy that underpins our approach to casework. To encourage further study - not just of the case - but of key concepts - Totality, Hierarchy, Minimum Dose, Single Remedy and so on.
At no point was I prepared to prescribe - it was neither appropriate nor ethical. But I wanted to encourage the would-be homeopath to look more deeply and perhaps to recognise that s/he needs to consider formal training. I hope that this will happen.
I was not happy with the posting - I was actually quite indignant - this was an afront to all that I personally hold dear as a professional person. But I do remember what it felt like to be new - to be unsure of what I was doing and why - and sometimes my teachers/supervisors were not helpful - not sympathetic to MY needs and concerns. That I am a practitioner today has been down to my own hard work - and to the support and inspiration of some key people.
What goes around, comes around.
Liz

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Shannon Nelson]

Well said, Liz!
Being kind will make us more "converts", and perhaps also lead to fewer
cases of "foot in mouth disease"! )