nice point about this time the pts failure to communicate.
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From: [log in to unmask] on behalf of Phil Dunlap
Sent: 08 June 1998 23:19
To: GP-UK Bulletin Board
Subject: Re: Vaccine refuseniks
Ahmad Risk wrote:
>
> On Mon, 8 Jun 98 14:29:31 UT, Paul Caldwell wrote:
>
> >Sounds like a good one for a reg tutorial!! This always annoys me as it's
the kid who might suffer for the decisions of the parents.
> >Discuss.
>
> Are you able to refute her evidence convincingly? ;-)
>
Not if she refuses to discuss it.
> If you are, you are stuck because she does not want to discuss it
> (unless, of course, you believe that we should always over-ride
> reasonably informed patients' views).
>
> If you are not, then you'll just have to give way.
The essence of a reasonable doctor-patient relationship is
communication. I am comfortable with neither paternalistic physicians
nor patients who adamantly refuse to even discuss a medical point which
training and experience tells me is wrong. Time for her to find a new
doctor or learn how to communicate. Otherwise this relationship is a big
problem just waiting to happen. :-(
>
> Regardless, what does it matter? ;-) :-)
> Ahmad
>
On the strictly individual basis, probably not much - unless, of course,
enough people in the community decide to let other parents take the
small risk of immunization while avoiding it themselves (the "commons
problem") and the pool of the vaccinated goes below a critical point.
This happened in Japan about 20 years ago when they made pertussis
optional and a few years later had to contend with an epidemic and a
crash vaccination program.
Here, kids have a large hassle trying to get into school without a vac
certificate, a recognized medical reason for not vaccinating or strict
observance of some religious prohibition.
Ahamad, I can't believe your silver tongue and eloquent powers of
persuasion would desert you on this! :-))
Phil
Philip G. Dunlap, D.O., M.P.H., Ph.D.
4 Bailey Hill Road
Natick, MA, 01760, USA
[log in to unmask]
(508) 650-9097 - voice
(508) 650-9152 - fax
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