Is it ethical if someone's family tells a patient to stop taking his prescri!
Question: Assume that patient was prescribed Seroquel, Trazodone, and Prozac. And they were Baker Acted (72 hour mandatory suicide watch) a few months ago. But since that time, the doctor increased the dosage and te patient is no longer having suicidal thoughts. But they are drowsy from the meds. The patient still wants to take the meds but his family is yelling at him and telling him to get off the meds. Is that right for the family to do that? Is that right for the family to tell the patient that the doctors are wrong (even though the family members have no medical training)?
Answers: Assume that patient was prescribed Seroquel, Trazodone, and Prozac. And they were Baker Acted (72 hour mandatory suicide watch) a few months ago. But since that time, the doctor increased the dosage and te patient is no longer having suicidal thoughts. But they are drowsy from the meds. The patient still wants to take the meds but his family is yelling at him and telling him to get off the meds. Is that right for the family to do that? Is that right for the family to tell the patient that the doctors are wrong (even though the family members have no medical training)?
No, it's not ethical at all. They have absolutely no right to tell you that you should stop taking your medication, nobody does except a medical professional. If you're having issues with the medication, sort them out with your psychiatrist, not your family.
No it is not right.,
On the other hand it is not right for the patient to make that decision either. It may be very difficult now having the energy to get-up-and- go, however it is better than suicide
the family obviously has no clue about mental disorders.
people who take seroquel are bipolar...yes? bipolar disorder is not cured just because a person doesn't feel suicidal anymore.
his family needs to back off and research. his family is going to kill him. psychiatrists go to medical school and become interns for a good 8 years. the family is obviously all idiots if they think they know more than a doctor with years and years udner their belts.
It is all in opinion. I was once in that same position, however I was taking thirteen different psych meds at once. I found that the doctor accually did not know what they were doing and almost killed me because of an interaction. I have gotten off all of my medication and I am 100% better (I also had intensive therapy to aid in recovery) Medication is very unlikly to be effective without therapy. When a patient is on that many medications the doctors are prob at a loss of what to do so they just keep adding. This person needs therapy. As for the family they may think that telling this person to stop taking the medication is in the persons best intrest but it is not there place unless this person is a child and it is the parents decision.
Ethics, Shmethics,...That Family and Doctor had BETTER sit down for a loooooong talk or somebody is going to be hurt badly. Don't those peeps communicate? The whole bunch needs a boot in the butt and get that patient some HELP!!
Chas
tell the family its none of their business. if they dont like it then they can get over it. it is up to the person taking the meds to decide whether or not they want to be on them. if the doctor says they should be on meds and they are working then whats the problem? drowsiness is not a huge enough reason to stop taking meds you really need.
Well, the patient should tell the doctor if the side effects are severe and see if there are alternative medications which might do as well with less side effects.
Why is the family asking the patient to get off the medications? Is the patient doing unsafe things (driving, etc. while drowsy?).
Being suicidal is a serious issue, and shouldn't be taken lightly. Side effects can be limited too, in many situations.
Good luck,
Dana (M.S. Counseling)
No it is very wrong. Many people have personal reasons and agendas for telling people to stop taking their psych meds. I have that problem with my family. There agenda is religion. They belongs to church's that does not believe in psychiatry or psych medication. They believe all mental illness has a spiritual answer and not medical. Other people have reasons such as possible side effects of the medication without properly weighing the risks with the benefits of taking them. Some people believe mental illness isn't real therefore making medication unnecessary. Some people believe there is a conspiracy between the pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession to administer psy meds for money. Regardless of these reasons only you, your doctor and the way you feel with and without the medication should guide your decisions.