A: Breast cancer & liability concern

[Guest guest]

One approach I have heard of (but not yet used myself) is

to type up a letter to the pt's MD-oncologist. In the

letter you introduce yourself and describe (in as neutral

wording as possible) the pt's choices, and also perhaps

request that the lines of communication between you and

that doc be kept open.

Then you make at least two copies of the letter, and you

ask the pt to give them to the oncologist. One is for the

oncologist to keep; the other is for the oncologist to SIGN

(verifying that they have read the letter & that the letter

also represents their understanding of the situation), and

then the pt brings the letter back to you. If you want you

can make a third copy (of the signed letter) for the pt.

This doesn't guarantee anything, but it does at least show

that you have been in contact with the allopath, that the

allopath has a clue (so to speak) about what you are doing,

and that the allopath understands that it was the pt's

choice to refuse allopathic tx - ie, third party

verification.

You might want to call the oncologist prior to sending the

letter so they don't get blindsided by it. And that way

you can ensure that what you write down does indeed match

their understanding of the situation.

Joanne Wu, ND, LAc

Takoma Park, land

301-920-1578

--- Kim Saxe <drkimsaxe@...> wrote:

> Hi group,

>

> This a question regarding treating patients with cancer

> who have opted to not use allopathic tx. I am certain

> that many of you work with patients who have chosen not

> to use chemo/rad and other allopathic txs. My patient is

> a breast cancer pt who I've emailed about before. She

> had an initial excision of the tumor (<1cm) but margins

> were positive. She does not want to do any more

> allopathic treatment which was recommended. She was

> advised to have another excision including lymph nodes

> followed by radiation at the very least. I personally am

> willing to work with her and have been for several months

> now. I am recommending checking her tumor markers every

> 3 months and breast MRI every 6 months which she will do.

> I am currently using drainage, BTGs, diet, homeopathic

> remedies with plussing method, and nutritional support

> for cancer process.

>

> My concern is this is my first patient who is not using

> any conventional treatments and I am concerned about

> liability issues. I am in an unlicensed state and do not

> have malpractice insurance. Other NDs strongly recommend

> dropping the case as it is too much risk for me and my

> practice. I do not believe in this approach but would

> like comments and to stimulate discussion on this issue.

> How do those of you out there treating cancer w/o

> allopathic med in conjunction " cover your butts " ? Do

> you worry about it at all? To cover my butt, I referred

> her to CTCA for a second opinion which she did and

> decided that their approach " is a joke " . I documented

> that I referred her there and she refused treatment.

> Isn't this enough?

>

> I am attracting more and more cancer patients and am sure

> this issue will come up often. I do not encourage or

> discourage an integrative approach to my patients but I

> want them to be informed of all the options and make

> their own decision based on personal philosophy. I share

> my philosophical approach to health and dis-ease in

> general but do not to make any claims regarding

> naturoapthic medicine " curing " cancer although I believe

> it is the only approach that really can.

>

> It's interesting to observe how extreme and opposing

> opinions can be within our own community. Not

> surprising, just interesting.

>

> Kim Saxe, ND

>

>

> Kim E. Saxe, ND (formerly Wetzler)

> Vice-President, Wisconsin Naturopathic Physicians

> Association

> www.milwaukeenaturopathic.com

>

> Seven Stones Center for Wellness

> 1924 N Farwell Ave

> Milwaukee, WI 53202

> 414.224.1074

>

> Riverwest Clinic

> 826 E. Center St.

> Milwaukee, WI 53212

> 414.372.5553

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one

> click.