Posted by lifetime on February 16, 2006, at 13:32:47
In reply to Re: Suicide on Effexor, posted by simon levane on February 16, 2006, at 12:24:22
Linkadge,
Thank you for your point of view while we do seem to have differences in understanding as well as opinion and knowledge of fact. I never implied as you stated it is “the responsability of the patient to find out weather or not a drug has the potential to induce sucidial thoughts or feelings” as that is the responsibility of the pharmaceutical manufacturer through their research and study programs. What I am stating and you’ve apparently misread is the responsibility of the patient and/or support persons to be reasonably educated and that means to read the drug insert, available literature and/or the internet as well as discussing with one’s own physician before hand and in some instances irresponsibly proceeding and laying blame elsewhere and to careful observe patient reactions.
I am also not negating the lawful and ethical responsibility of drug companies to divulge all relevant study information and reports of side-effects and contraindications.
Since I am not familiar with many of the medical warnings in Britain would you kindly cite for me specifically where it states “doctors have been told NOT to prescribe such drugs to anyone under the age of 18?” Amongst other facts I am aware of the warning label required by the FDA in the U.S. for the recently approved VNS Therapy and while there is an age and several other restrictions the fact remains a physician may prescribe a therapy in his/her better judgment regardless of labeling. I might also add for your knowledge if you’re not aware that many of the AED’s are used effectively for purposes of mood disorders without being specifically approved by any medical body for the purposes of treating mood disorders. Furthermore, most all drug testing is not done on minors nor on seniors so thereto is an additional group requiring careful observations during treatment.
I certainly hope one does not equate fixing a toilet with the same importance and knowledge as taking care of one’s medical needs although from my readings I sometimes think some folks pay more attention and are more knowledgeable about their toilets as per your example.
My spouse opted to enter a research program as her back was toward a wall and we were very limited in options. One of the side-effects we were informed of was possible death. My spouse and I made an informed decision to proceed which was for us a beneficial and correct decision looking back in retrospect but to condemn a therapy because it doesn’t work for one but does work for another is irresponsible and a self-centered point of view. Sharing a negative or bad experience I do advocate for and is educational but advocating for the removal of treatment options such as ECT is in my mind is not acceptable knowing that many have also benefited from the very same therapy.
I’ll also add from my readings that the laws and approval of the marketing of drugs are not the same for vitamins and holistic products in this country and while drugs require documented studies and FDA approval other products do not.
So I as a reasonably intelligent consumer and health care advocate would prefer to take some responsibility for our decisions in an attempt at preparedness to avoid some of the potential serious side-effects and contraindications of any treatment and while you speak of accountability you seem to imply little or no accountability on the part of the patient, support persons and/or consumer.
As an offset to your analogy of the plumber and toilet I would offer up one imagining and placing a hot cup of coffee between one’s legs and being burnt by the coffee as it spills over while driving a vehicle would also in your mind be the responsibility of the cup manufacturer, the coffee seller and/or the vehicle manufacturer for not being prepared or having the knowledge to advise the consumer of these circumstances all coming together and causing injury. In my opinion I think many believe it is easier to lay blame than take any responsibility for one’s own actions.
Warmly,
Herb
VNSdepression.com
poster:lifetime
thread:601406
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060212/msgs/610257.html