Posted by laima on January 6, 2007, at 15:19:33
In reply to Re: Patient paid to accept neuroleptic depot injec, posted by linkadge on January 6, 2007, at 11:08:45
...especially if they are unemployed and pretty broke. I mean, even me- if I was a touch broker than I am- it would be awfully tempting to get a zyprexa shot for a chunk of cash- and I hate the stuff! And I keep mulling over my experience with the prima-donna psychiatrist who genuinely believed that if I felt zyprexa was making me feel bizarre, it was evidence of a developing psychosis and indicated that I needed even MORE. Meanwhile, I noticed she had a zyprexa pen and notepad. One problem to be reckoned with: in some circles- unfortuneately, sometimes even in the mental health world- once one is a "mental patient"- one's credibility goes out the window. I think the term "schizophrenic" maybe even carries the ultimate in stigma. I mean, think honestly- how do would we feel about a person we meet if we were informed ahead of time, "This person coming to see you-is a schizophrenic- just so you know, just to warn you". Oh- and then such a person doesn't like their medication? What about looking into why, rather than dismissing the fact that they don't want to comply and blaming it on their mental disorder? Why not look into WHY, what the problem is. If one feels better with a med, I imagine one would look forward to it and seek it out. Perhaps some individuals are too messed up to make the connection though- I just don't know, but it definately seems possible. If someone gets involved with criminal behavior, the ethical balance shifts again for me. Ie, if someone hears instructions to hurt people, and the medication turns off those voices, then perhaps such a program is 100% valid.
I remember that last fall there was a news story about how some experts wanted to do away with the term "schizophrenia" altogether, and this was one of their reasons. I'm sure all cases are different, but the more I think about it, the more troubled I feel about this sort of program overall.
> There is also the possability that a poor patient who may have otherwise recovered from schizophrenia, would still accept injections and compromise their health, just to get the $.
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> Linkadge
poster:laima
thread:719688
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070101/msgs/719888.html