Question

5. J., age 11, is hospitalized and diagnosed as having schizophrenia. His par- ents are told that he should be given an antipsychotic medication to clear up his thoughts. Having been told that only this medication will help, the parents give consent without any additional information. J. is given Prolixin. After being on the drug for two months, he starts to develop strange move- ments. Without warning, his arm jerks straight up over his head, or his foot and leg jerk from time to time. These movements are uncontrollable. This was diagnosed as tardive dyskinesia. These are side effects suffered by most patients who use the drug for a long time. In 1 or 2 percent of the cases, the side effects severely incapacitate the patient. Some experts argue that there is virtually no danger if the antipsychotics are used for only a short time Should the physician have informed the patient of the side effects, which are serious and always occur with continued usage? Does therapeutic privi- lege apply here?

Answer 1

Answer: Physician should inform the patient about the side effects as there are serious side effects and for the continuous use of medication these side effects generally occurs. Because once the patient will know about the serious side effects of the long term use of the drug, he may prepare himself for it and does not panic for the situation that may occur.

Yes, therapeutic privilege can be applied here as physician may or may not reveal the side effects of the drug as may be after knowing about the side effects of the medication, the patient may refuse to take medication or may cause other problems. So, the physician may be excused for not informing the patient about the side effects of the medication in long term use.