Need advice about a Psychiatrist

[FreyaB]

Hi all I am a very new member here - I have been in a very stressful marriage for the last 7 years. My wife's father is a Psychiatrist and just before she left she was talking to him on the phone and came back and said to me "Dad said you need to take these" he was faxing a script for a new medication over to our local chemist. I have never had a conversation with him about any issues at all and my former wife said it was just to help me get through the day - I didn't really think too much about it - I do have depression and have taken medication for about 8 years now (post cancer diagnosis and my mothers recent death). With the medication I took just over a months worth of it and then looked it up ! I now know its an anti psychotic - I have never had any issues related to psychosis at all - ever. I'm feeling like he should not have written this script for me and wondering what I can do if anything, I'm almost feeling like its medical negligence as there was no consultation, didn't talk to me about anything at all and wasn't aware of other medications that I took - would really appreciate some advice - thanking you all in advance

[Croix]

Dear FreyaB~

Welcome here. If this is a recent event I consider it urgent you contact your doctor, produce the tablets or script and explain the whole matter. Then ask for advice on the medical side concerning reactions to existing meds and also about ceasing the medication (if that is appropriate) as this often needs to be done under medical supervision.

Further ask your doctor's opinion if the matter is indeed unprofessional and what steps should reasonably be taken. Under normal circumstances it is your doctor who refers you to the psychiatrist and then liaises with him or her on an ongoing basis.

OK, with all that said it seems you have a very taxing time. I hope the cancer has been dealt with and I'm sorry over the death of your mother, something that can be very hard to deal with for most of us. I'm also sorry (if I understand correctly) your family situation is a most unhappy one too.

Would you mind clearing up a matter? Was this your wife, or your ex-wife you are talking abut? I 'm not sure of your circumstances..

Nevertheless I beleive you to be right in all your assumptions. While a psychiatrist is able to issue prescriptions this is done with due regard to the physical and mental welfare and circumstances of the client. It includes an assessment or diagnosis, knowledge of the client's current treatment and medication and other factors.

To blindly issue a prescription to someone who is not a client simply on the basis of another's word seems to me to be a complete failure of duty of care. Leaving it to the judgment of a pharmacist who may or may not be familiar with all your usual medications is not sufficient. In addition the client should have been offered sufficient information to make an informed decision on taking the medication and normally the client's doctor informed.

I do beleive the fact it was an anti-psychotic is a side issue, it is the circumstances under which it was given and its possible effects that is of great concern.

It my be possible to issue a complaint, I'd not know. In my state there is a Medical Ombudsman who can be approached about such matters, I'm unsure elswhere.

The most likely professional body, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists offers the following procedural advice for complaints against its members:

https://www.ranzcp.org/about-us/complaints-about-psychiatrists

I'd like you to know you are not alone and we would very much like to know how you get on

Croix

[Guest_1643]

Hello Freya -

Yes, that is unethical in my humble opinion.

I feel disappointed that your wife's father would do that.... it really puts you in a position that isn't fair. I'm glad you stopped taking them after such a short time, which was great that you realised. Unfortunately a lot of people are prescribed anti-psychotics woh are not psychotic.... it absolutely doesn't mean he was saying you are psychotic. He himself has a lot to answer for that he would prescribe to a relative in such a manner, without checking what other meds they are on, their medical history, or interviewing them thoroughly.

I'm so sorry that happened to you but glad you stopped taking them.

[GimZim]

That's really disturbing. I'd definitely speak to your regular doctor about this, even taking yourself off medications poses risks, let alone any interactions, etc.

I'm sorry this happened to you, it doesn't sound right at all.

[geoff]

Hello FreyaB, after reading your comment, I don't believe it's at all appropriate for your wife's father to prescribe medication without talking with you, simply because he's only getting his daughters version which maybe favouring her and missing out on the important issues.

The problem could be that he has known you for 7 years, but that doesn't excuse him from prescribing any medication unless you have been taking it before, but as you haven't had a discussion with him, then this shouldn't happen as you may have a bad reaction to them.

You could contact 'The Mental Health Commissioner' on 1800 246 054 for advice.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[FreyaB]

Hello everyone - thank you very much for your responses, they are very helpful and supportive which is just what I need right now. Croix, she left in June 2019 (without notice) taking our son and taking out a family violence order against me, there has never been any kind of family or domestic violence what-so-ever and I was very surprised at how easy it is for someone to do this without any evidence or having to supply any evidence until Court (which has cost thousands and thousands of $ - she has bipolar affective disorder and emotionally unstable borderline personality, diagnosed when she was in King Edward Memorial Hospital Mother and Baby Unit for threatening to commit suicide prior to our sons birth (no I didn't know before hand, she said she suffered from anxiety and depression and her parents never said anything and have not been supportive when things have previously become difficult - I asked her psychiatrist father if she suffered from bipolar after I had done some research and instead of saying yes lets talk about support all he said was she has many of the traits) - I found some paperwork after she left, written by her father that clearly states she is Bipolar, not that me knowing that would have made a difference, you love who you love, but it would have made it easier to source the right support and medication and understanding behaviours etc. Any way now it is what it is and I'm been extremely depressed and currently seeing both a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist for help - thank you all so very much for your support - I really really appreciate it - FreyaB

[Blue_healer]

Firstly - always best if dr prescribing talks with patient, but in psychiatry it doesn't always happen. Generally in those cases a nurse, GP or other medical professional would tell the psychiatrist about the symptoms a patient is displaying & the psychiatrist can then prescribe. I doubt it would be legal for a psychiatrist to prescribe based just on what a spouse said about someone.

Although some medications are know as anti-psychotics, it doesn't mean that they are only used for psychosis. Some of the so called anti-psychotics can be used along with a standard antidepressant, to increase the antidepressant effect, particularly if you have tried several different antidepressants and they are not working. Sometimes they are used to help with sleep or calming or other specific issues. I have never had any psychotic issues, but have at various times been prescribed different antipsychotic medications. They have each been prescribed in a low dose along with an antidepressant.

Although you could make a complaint or report this as medical negligence, think about whether it is worthwhile for you, or whether it would be just another stressor. Probably more important that you focus on what would help you. See a doctor to get on medication/s that works for you. See a therapist if that helps you - could be a psychologist, counsellor, or other mental health worker.

[Croix]

Dear FreyaB~

I think you can see from the above that everyone thinks your ex father in law acted in an improper manner. Blue healer is right in that carrying out a formal complaint is a stressful matter, and can be drawn out over a very long time.

You already know he was not straight with you over his daughter's condition, and your ex herself is at least unreliable and if she took out an AVO then probably hostile too.

It may be better for you to work with your medical team (and I'm very hapy you have one) to build up your own resilience and take the steps needed to reduce your depression. Having an enquiry is probably not going to help that, particularly if contested.

I know you would like to see him be censured for his action, and I'm sure the split up of the family will have given you a great deal of bitterness, grief and anger. It might seem easier to go down the path of seeking 'justice' but that is never guaranteed and in the process makes you relive every aspect again and again.

It happened, you know it was not justified, but maybe concentrating on the you that now has to recover is more important. -Do you think that is reasonable?

Croix

[TheBigBlue]

Hi FreyaB,

sorry to hear you have been having such a hard time.

i just wanted to comment as I was recently prescribed antipsychotics by y psychiatrist. I felt really freaked out by this at first, but the psychiatrist explained that my current antidepressants weren’t working as expected so these were to work in conjunction with the medication I was already taking.

i also wasn’t sleeping & he said they would help me sleep. Which they have done a bit.

I don’t have psychosis of any type either & I found it hard to get my ahead around it at first, but when I look back over the past few weeks I think that maybe they have helped.

i was severely depressed & suicidal & those feelings while not disappearing have definitely eased.

i guess what I am trying to say is that taking those pills doesn’t mean you are crazy or psychotic, there are actually numerous reason it may be prescribed. Of course they way they were prescribed is a different matter, but I just didn’t want you to think you different or weird or crazy.

You’re not.

take care & I hope life gets easier for you