Re: Medical rights - right to refuse medication

[Guest guest]

Hi, Firstly, AS is not a mental health condition. Its neurological.

I havent heard of anyone with mental health issues being forced on medication, let alone a person with AS. AS is a way of behaving, and seeing the world, so why opt for medication per se? Having said that, in terms of the OCD elements of the condition, many AS people have medication to help them sleep, cope with OCD, and to make them feel calmer all round.

There is no medication for AS nor should there be, its not curable and its not an illness. Diagnosis is a way to know how to manage the condition, and I am one of those who dont see it as a disability in the accepted sense - I see it as an inability in some senses.

Your fiancee's medical practitioner should be aware of AS - Tony Attwoods book, Guide to Aspergers Syndrome, is good for that.

We know that many people with AS just carry on regardless, not affected by their condition in any harmful way, just as many NT's do.

AS - Its an explanation, not a label.

Hope you do Ok

Judy B, Scotland

Subject: Medical rights - right to refuse medicationTo: aspires-relationships Date: Thursday, 28 January, 2010, 3:11

Hi,

I need to find out some information for my fiance'. He's desperately afraid that if he gets a diagnosis that the "system" is going to force him on medication. I keep telling him that he has a right to decline.. As long as he's not a danger to society or to himself he can decline any medication. He lives in Canada. Does anyone know where I can find specific rights for those with a mental health condition? I want to be able to bring this information with me before his appointment to help ease his mind. He also has the irrational fear he will be incarcerated in an institution against his will because his parents are getting too old to take care of him and want him out of the house. Can someone help me with these issues as to what to advise him of to convince him otherwise?

15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[Guest guest]

To: aspires-relationships Sent: Thu, January 28, 2010 9:33:01 AMSubject: Re: Medical rights - right to refuse medication

>Hi, Firstly, AS is not a mental health condition. Its neurological.This is so true! Well-stated.

>I havent heard of anyone with mental health issues being forced on medication, let alone a person with AS. AS is a way of behaving, and seeing the world, so why opt for medication per se? Having said that, in terms of the OCD elements of the condition, many AS people have medication to help them sleep, cope with OCD, and to make them feel calmer all round.For someone who is not a danger to himself or others, this would not make any sense. In addition, many AS have medication issues where they need much smaller doses to get it right, or have idiosyncratic reactions. This is the case with me, for example, for many medications (I am not taking any psych meds). My doctor has told me the procedure for what to do for some of the blood pressure things he has given me to make sure I do not react in a bad way- I am allergic to at least two different families, as far as I know.

>There is no medication for AS nor should there be, its not curable and its not an illness. Diagnosis is a way to know how to manage the condition, and I am one of those who dont see it as a disability in the accepted sense - I see it as an inability in some senses.I would point out that for me, when I began taking atenolol for BP, it had the side benefit that I was able to maintain sustained eye contact without any anxiety for the first time in my life (with strangers). I agree with your statement that different AS find things that work for them- but it is not something to "cure" in the usual sense that people view this.

>Your fiancee's medical practitioner should be aware of AS - Tony Attwoods book, Guide to Aspergers Syndrome, is good for that.Excellent reference!

>We know that many people with AS just carry on regardless, not affected by their condition in any harmful way, just as many NT's do.

>AS - Its an explanation, not a label.

>Hope you do Ok

Judy B, Scotland For specific rights, check out http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/ Anyone on the spectrum, whether self-dx or formal, can join ASANDiscussion, the all-spectrum newsgroup, where we have any number of Canadian members who could address this question. The website above also has information about it. If you write me off-list, I can privately pass your email and question to a few people who might know the answers to your questions. I believe that Judy is correct, but it never hurts to dot the i's and cross the t's.

From: K Coe <heholdsthekeys@ yahoo..com>Subject: [aspires-relationsh ips] Medical rights - right to refuse medicationTo: aspires-relationshi psyahoogroups (DOT) comDate: Thursday, 28 January, 2010, 3:11

Hi,

I need to find out some information for my fiance'. He's desperately afraid that if he gets a diagnosis that the "system" is going to force him on medication. I keep telling him that he has a right to decline.. As long as he's not a danger to society or to himself he can decline any medication. He lives in Canada. Does anyone know where I can find specific rights for those with a mental health condition? I want to be able to bring this information with me before his appointment to help ease his mind. He also has the irrational fear he will be incarcerated in an institution against his will because his parents are getting too old to take care of him and want him out of the house. Can someone help me with these issues as to what to advise him of to convince him otherwise?

15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.