Singapore Medical Council (SMC) has just given a directive prohibiting a certain medical physician from prescribing non-standard antibiotic/antifungal medicines as a treatment of Autism. The same doctor was apparently censured in 2010 for using another type of non-standard treatment ("bioessence therapy") for children with Autism.
Use of complementary treatment @ alternative therapy for various ailments (particularly those "incurable" illnesses) is a known secret. I am not against such trial, as long as it does not cause any harm to the patient/family - either physically or financially. At least, this will give some comfort to the parents that they have exhausted all options in treating their children's medical condition.
However, inevitably, the parents may be misguided into believing that such treatment will cure a child's medical condition; and this usually come with a hefty cost.
I myself has recommended "off label" use of some medicines, in the hope that they may improve /optimize the patients' overall functional status. But I will never tout them as a cure. And I will hesitate to even discuss those "off label" medicines, if the medicines or treatment come with hefty cost.
In my years of practice, I have learnt that it is much better to tell the parents the truth - that some medical illnesses are truly incurable. But at the same time, it is equally important to guide them on the way forward, and support them emotionally.
Inevitably, all parents will be devastated on knowing the hard true. Some may slam us as being incompetent. But most care givers/parents will appreciate such candor.
No comments:
Post a Comment