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refusing medication - what are your rights?

desperatebrother

Hi experts!!!

 

Just joined today,

As usual I need your input please

My brother (50years old) has been living independantly for getting on for 10 years. He is a very gentle person, is definately not aggresive and is not a danger to any living thing. As an aspergers sufferer he is socially a disaster and it can be difficult to understand what makes him tick sometimes. He has (until recently) never been on any medication, and as his family we have never felt he needed any

some background....

He was (eventually) diagnosed with aspergers in his early 20`s. My parents kept an eye on him until they moved some distance from him (very long story), and at this point social services took over, because he wanted to stay in the area that he knew. To my shame I too live some distance away and contact between myself and my brother has always been eratic. However up until very recently he was perfectly happy with the arrangement, and regular visits occurred with all of us.

in the last 18months he has been persuaded to go into Hospital twice (we still do not know why), indeed he is currently in hospital. His consultant has both times, imediately placed him on a cocktail of drugs.

Unfortunately these drugs have had a terrible effect on him...

He ends with urine retention and eventually a catheter

He hovers between constipation and bowel incontinancy

He aternates between a zombie state and bad temper (though never agression)

His consultant has admitted that he is "sensitive" to medication and at the last meeting attended by my parents agreed to take him off all medication. His health improved enormously within 3 days!!!!

My parents are currently away and I am ringing him every day to see how he is.

yesterday he (eventually) told me that the consultant very kindly put him back on the medication - "just to see how you get on" and coincidentally the day he knew my parents had gone away

My brother informs me that he does not want to take these pills and has been flushing them down the loo. He further tells me that he has told his consultant that he does not want tablets.

So my question is...

Should he "own up" to not taking tablets and further should he again inform consultant that he in effect "refuses " medication?

...if he does this what can/will they do??

Sorry for the rambling post if you need any more info please ask

 

 

Parents

  • longman said:

    I have tried to find some helpful information on my bookshelf, but the only thing I can find is Morton-Cooper, Alison (1988) Health Care and the Autistic Spectrum A Guide for Health Professionals, Parents and Carers, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This is dated and also rather superficial. Morton-Cooper is an educator rather than a health professional.

    However p80 it says "Take extreme care over the administration of medicines. Adults and children with autism may not tolerate medicines well, and alternative forms of administration may be needed. The ward pharmacist may need to liaise closely with a nominated relative, nursing staff and the prescribing doctors so that sensory senstivities are taken into account".

    P94 warns that "if catherisation is required because of urinary problems or surgery special care will be needed to see that this is carried out as gently as possible or it is likely to cause extreme distress".

    The key point is that people on the spectrum need specialist knowledge, and it may be that the health professionals prescribing for alleged schizophrenia may not actually know enough about treatment of patients with autism. It might be appropriate for your parents to request that a qualified autism experienced professional be involved.

    once again thank you for your assistance, however......

    he has happily lived to the grand age of 50 without the need for any medication (never posing any danger to himself/anyone else)

    he has also managed to keep himself clean and presentable as well ( needlesharp ironing!!!)

    nothing has changed behaviouraly (within reason anyway)

    So with respect we would rather he came off medication all together and we would certainly be very unhappy with surgery/permanant catherteristion - why disable him?

    I do however take your earlier point - there may well be a valid reason for medication in the consultants opinion BUT...

    If I had to bet - it wouldnt be on the consultant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ...and I completely 100% agree with the need for specialist help - the trouble is - the cost!

    is that book available online or to purchase and is it considered the definative guide???

Reply

  • longman said:

    I have tried to find some helpful information on my bookshelf, but the only thing I can find is Morton-Cooper, Alison (1988) Health Care and the Autistic Spectrum A Guide for Health Professionals, Parents and Carers, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. This is dated and also rather superficial. Morton-Cooper is an educator rather than a health professional.

    However p80 it says "Take extreme care over the administration of medicines. Adults and children with autism may not tolerate medicines well, and alternative forms of administration may be needed. The ward pharmacist may need to liaise closely with a nominated relative, nursing staff and the prescribing doctors so that sensory senstivities are taken into account".

    P94 warns that "if catherisation is required because of urinary problems or surgery special care will be needed to see that this is carried out as gently as possible or it is likely to cause extreme distress".

    The key point is that people on the spectrum need specialist knowledge, and it may be that the health professionals prescribing for alleged schizophrenia may not actually know enough about treatment of patients with autism. It might be appropriate for your parents to request that a qualified autism experienced professional be involved.

    once again thank you for your assistance, however......

    he has happily lived to the grand age of 50 without the need for any medication (never posing any danger to himself/anyone else)

    he has also managed to keep himself clean and presentable as well ( needlesharp ironing!!!)

    nothing has changed behaviouraly (within reason anyway)

    So with respect we would rather he came off medication all together and we would certainly be very unhappy with surgery/permanant catherteristion - why disable him?

    I do however take your earlier point - there may well be a valid reason for medication in the consultants opinion BUT...

    If I had to bet - it wouldnt be on the consultant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ...and I completely 100% agree with the need for specialist help - the trouble is - the cost!

    is that book available online or to purchase and is it considered the definative guide???

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