to wonder why people dont question drs?

[biddysmama]

i was talking to a woman in my 'due in' groups and she said she didnt want certain tests but had to ... i told her i refused those tests (downs and diabetes tests) and she said she didnt know she was allowed to refuse..

she was shocked when i told her i refused iron tablets (upped my iron in food instead),downs,cervix exams,diabetes test,induction,injection for placenta after labour..

is it not normal to question and/or opt out of things you dont want or really need?

Well you were very very lucky then. I was hospitalised as a child and was under the age where i could consent or not and had all the drugs forced on me. I realise this isnt exactly the same but i was given no choice whatsoever in what happened to me as a child and i believe i have been damaged as a result of this - i refused drugs for over 8 years as an adult which could have helped me due to my fear of being made powerless if i saw a dr again.

I have also spoken to adults who were sectioned and the loss of power over you own choices is often mentioned as the worst thing about it.

Your own*

OP - you say that diet is better than iron tablets? Really? How can you get 600mg of iron in your body by diet?

My grandfather had Type 2, but other than that I had no risk factors for GD. I passed every urine test I was given in my monthly check-ups, and then started feeling odd at twenty weeks gestation. I went to the hospital and into coma three days later: my blood sugar was over 53 mmol/L. Blood glucose readings indicated it had been climbing for a while - more than long enough to be spilling into my urine. Which it wasn't.

Obviously, I had developed Type 1 rather than the more usual GD, but my point is that relying on how I felt or on the results of urine tests alone would have killed me and my child.

What's all this about Dr's getting angry?

I have questioned many doctors over the years. Their reactions have ranged from running off to find a a more senior doctor (consultant)/sending a midwife to double check, to being polite but firm with me, and everything in between. (One professor did chuckle to himself and roll his eyes). But none of them has ever got angry, or even annoyed.

All have totally respected my opinion/refusal to tests/induction/ injections when I put my point forward.

Pixieonabroomstick

You are completely wrong about that.

Being sectioned under the mental health act is done when someone has a mental disorder to allow treatment for that disorder. It doesn not allow treatment for unrelated physical conditions. There are additions safeguards relating to the prescription of medication, and there are certain treatments that can never be given without consent.
Also a person who is sectioned has the right to appeal against thier section.

I'm going to re-post that to correct the spelling:

Pixieonabroomstick

You are completely wrong about that. Its important that people know what is allowed, because misinformation could make treatment more frightening for people than whatever they are already having to deal with.

Being sectioned under the mental health act is done when someone has a mental disorder to allow treatment for that disorder. It doesn not allow treatment for unrelated physical conditions. There are additional safeguards relating to the prescription of medication, and there are certain treatments that can never be given without consent.
Also a person who is sectioned has the right to appeal against their section.

Erm. What unrelated physical disorder ?

I know you can have the right of appeal but it can be very difficult to get your voice heard regarding what you want. There was a thread recently on her about a woman who wanted a specific treatment and really really had to fight to be heard and if i recall hadnt been sectioned but was under threat of section if she left the hospital. I cant remember the outcome very well though.
My point is , if the Drs want you to have x drug , if you are sectioned and if you really dont want ti it can still be forced on you. It might be for your best interest but it still can be forced.

Im not meaning to scare anyone and im sorry if i have. I am probably not etting across what i am trying to say at all. I think 4madboys summed it up much better when she said "i am sure they WILL force treatment if necessary". I mean if you are required by a Dr to have something under section you have to have it. If you request not to im sure there is a process but i think you can be over ruled if the treatment is deemed best for your mental health.

pixie i am sorry you had such a bad experience but you were a child, where was the adult responsible for you? surely it was their responsibilty to question? ask the relevant information etc.

i know at least two other friends who have been sectioned and they have also had their treatment options thoroughly discussed with them and informed choices made etc.

i do think though that you have to watch the way in which you talk to some drs, to not look as though you are trying to undermine them/battle against them etc and this is especially the case with regards to mental health.

lynette i havent had drs get angry as such but scathing, patronising and rude, hell yes!

viva you wont absorb allthe 600mg of iron from a tablet, most of it you will poo out, probably with difficulty as it will more than likely make you constipated.

depending the level of anaemia it IS much more effective to treat it with diet than by tablets and if you are severly anaemic then you can then have a blood transfusion, most anaemia is not helped hugely by iron tablets, the best things you can do are to look at yoru diet and increase your natural iron intake and also things high in vit c to help you absorb the iron and also avoid things that can deplete your body of iron.

but in pregnancy there are actually studies that show that is IS normal and ok to have a certain amount of iron deficiency, something to do with the thinness? of the blood and how diluted it is, actually i think i am wording that wrong, but anyway it is a normal part of pregnancy and tho its wise to moniter it doesnt necessarily need treatment, unless levels are extremely low.

Any unrelated physical disorder. I was giving it as one of the reasons why saying 'cannot refuse anything at all. Or do anything without permission' was inaccurate.

It depends what section you are under, with some sections you can refuse treatment but if it is deemed to be in your best interest for example if you don't want your meds you can still be made to take them, with most sections you can't refuse treatment except ECT

Even so you do have the right to appeal and your meds should be discussed with you, as long as your not refusing all medications there is no reason staff won't take on board your worries such as weight gain and try to accommodate this by changing your tablets if possible