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- Page navigation anchor for Diagnostic failures or a medical defence?Diagnostic failures or a medical defence?Rather than focusing on Rachel Pryke’s well intentioned suggestions for applying the MUS diagnosis more ethically and thoughtfully to “heart sink patients”, perhaps it’s more useful to examine why such a minor diagnosis has come in for such high profile national exposure and promotion to the medical profession via medical conferences this year?As a growing number of people see it, the reasons are unlikely to be diagnostic and more likely to be self-protective. Perhaps the hidden reasons behind this diagnosis are these?:a) To cut costs arising from an identified sector of patients – referred to by Rachel Pryke as “heart sink patients” - which will then provide required budgetary savings to the NHS.b) To prevent further investigations into what is happening as a result of the vast and unjustified number of prescriptions issued for psycho-active medication - particularly antidepressants. c) To contradict patient evidence referred to in the BMA update to doctors of October 2016,1 which concluded that antidepressant (and other) drugs are causing significant harms and that current protocols for their withdrawal are in urgent need of revision.d) To provide documented medical evidence of somatisation when prescription drugs cause problems following their ingestion or withdrawal.When the purpose of a diagnos...Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.
- Page navigation anchor for "Heartsink patients" - whose heart is sinking?"Heartsink patients" - whose heart is sinking?
The term "heartsink" normally refers to the doctor's heart sinking when the "difficult" patient enters the consulting room. Very often, the patient too experiences a feeling of dread. This week I was offered a referral to psychiatry to discuss my “MUS”, an offer I declined. I am so very perplexed that this label should even be considered.
I have been extremely ill since withdrawing from Nitrazepam and Effexor, taken for 40 years and 15 years respectively. I am physically and cognitively disabled as a consequence. The protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome has been well researched in the UK, most notably by Professor Sir Malcolm Lader, King’s College, London and Professor Heather Ashton, formerly of Newcastle University www.lader-ashton.org. It is known to last for months or even years and it is reported that some patients never recover. https://vimeo.com/188181193 The “Ashton manual” is the most widely used source of information by the online benzodiazepine withdrawal community. www.benzo.org.uk/manual/ All my symptoms are listed in that manual. There is a clear physiological explanation of benzodiazepine withdrawal. I have shared this information with my GPs.
I am unable to walk properly, to fully absorb the meaning of written text or speech, or to remember conversations or events the following day. My doctor...
Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.