[Fwd: ] Integration- MEDS

[Guest guest]

"Eric Serejski"

"'Frances Gander'"

 

First of all, the questions raised below do not have easy answers and may

have no answers yet.

The situation and concern around herbs is such that giving herbs on patients

taking drugs (multiple

or not) should always be assessed carefully.

 

Q: Has anyone heard of anyone being sued for giving Chinese herbs of

any kind, in any situation?

 

A: Not in this country, or maybe with ephedra in New York

 

Generaly law suits would be setteled privately in minor cases so we would

not know of them.

 

Second, complains may have been issued with respective state boards.

If the complains were

processed, they would be public knowledge and the board would be able to

provide information.

 

Third, an internet query with the words “law suits Chinese herbs” may generate

an answer.

 

 

Q: Scenario #1 would be: MD does not participate, Patient wants to taper,

you the practitioner do

not tell him/her to taper… you give supporting herbs. They get sick, they

come after you.

 

A: It will depend on how you document your folder. However, if

the patient tells the practitioner that

she/he wants to taper, the practitioner needs to suggest the patient to

consult their physician first

and then document the statement.

 

Q: Scenario #2: Patient is on multiple MEDS, they are not tapering,

you give supporting herbs, they

get sick or die, the family (with) there MD comes after you, saying you

prescribed a ‘bad’ combo

(herb/ drug) interaction. Comments?

 

A: First the family and/or MD would need to prove the combination was

the cause of the problem.

This is actually a situation that is under serious consideration in ER

where hospitals are starting to

be concerned about giving western drugs to patients that may be under combination

of

non-allopathic components of no known history for interaction.

 

Second, it is possible to see this scenario happen. The reverse scenario

is as possible: the

practitioner gives herbs and after that the patient receives western medication

and suffers from the

combination. Who would be in fault?

 

Q: I am sure they are beneficial, but are waivers necessary?

 

A: Waivers should be integrated in the routine office waiver form and

be relatively detailed to cover

the practitioner: it should include a request for a list of all medications

a patient takes. I personally

always provide herbs very carefully for patients taking multiple drugs

for a variety of reasons. On the

most simple rational: a herbal formula is a formula careful designed with,

i.e., 5 or 6 herbs. Knowing

that the patient is already taking 1 or 2 or 3 additional components transforms

the original formula

into a 8 to 10 components. Knowing the delicacy of how formula are

designed, I would have a

difficult time to assess what the new formula is about.

 

Q: I know many that give herbs without MD approval, or knowledge, when

the patient in on multiple

MEDS…What are the laws surrounding these type of situations?

 

A: The laws would depend on the state. Herbs are considered as

tea and there is no regulation

around suggesting tea. However, as accidents will occur, the situation

will change.

 

Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed

healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics

specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional

services, including board approved online continuing education.