E-DRUG: Patients' rights
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Dear E-Druggers,
In response to Ngoyi Bukonda's e-mail, this South African has to speak
out on patient's rights especially now that every citizen of my country
should know theirs.
To assume that a patient is ignorant might have its place in detailing
the use of a medicine for its correct usage and dosing regimen. This
approach affords better clarity and is a means to achieving better
therapeutic outcomes.
But there are limitations to believing that a patient is ignorant, needs
to be told little and has to trust his care giver completely. In good
health practice a patient should be informed about prevention of
illness, care of a disease state, side effects of medicines and all related
matters. So in reply to Ngoyi Bukonda's questions:-
- (1) a great deal of trust (or ignorance) on the patient's side is the
preferred way of doing business in the >provision of pharmaceutical
care;
Caring and trust do go hand in hand but the patient does have a right to
be informed and educated. Blind trust is an outdated concept which can
lead to abuse. Why should the intellect of the patient not be used to
best advantage for healthier outcomes?
- (2) one can more or less freely manipulate the level of trust (and
ignorance) on the patient's side. Such a >manipulation is feasible more
so now than it used to be in the past.
We have passed through the dark ages centuries ago! Modern technology
allows even people in the remote areas to listen to the radio and be
informed. Therefore, the assumption of a patient being ignorant can be
misleading. Any manipulation of ones's trust can be for better or worse
and does not allow for the good practice of a profession in healthcare.
Appealing to the intellect of a patient with information can breed
better trust in their care giver.
- (3) pharmaceutical care providers are less likely or less inclined to
abuse their patients,
How can this be substantiated? I wish this could be the truth for all
ages!
What needs to be assured is that there are regulations so any abuse can
be prevented.
The sale of a product for monetary gain rather than "no sale" where this
would be the correct approach in certain instances can be construed as
abuse. Care and monitoring in the sale of "abused substances" is another
area where pharmaceutical care providers can abuse their clientele for
just monetary gain and not perform as good healthcare providers. The
sale of the more expensive generic rather than the cost effective
product on a prescription where this is allowed is yet another example.
- (4) health outcomes are more likely to be improved by
pharmaceutical care providers when they operate >under the veil of blind
trust from their clients.
Is there room for blind trust? Even children question and want to know
all in this age. Why should any individual not be informed in a language
best understood by him/her wherever they are.
Medicines are a special commodity, which need care in their use and
detailing to achieve the desired optimum results. If this is our belief,
then a patient needs to know the whys, the hows, the whens and the
expected results.
The trained professional has a duty to perform and inform. Healthcare is
not a case of the "blind leading the blind."
Kind regards.
(Ms) Mariam Cassimjee
Pharmaceutical Services
KZN Dept of Health
Durban
South Africa
Email: mimi@iafrica.com [added manually; WB]
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