Sad Story

[HelloHockeyFans]

http://www.torontosun.com/News/Canada/2008/04/22/5353796-sun.html

During the six weeks he spent looking for his daughter Nadia, he heard countless times that the 18-year-old Carleton University student was an adult.

He heard that whatever desperate, depressed and suicidal feelings she told a counsellor, they were private.

But today, two days after his daughter's body was discovered along the Rideau River, the grieving father rages at a system that kept his daughter's pain a secret to him.


An 18-year-old university student who went missing over a month ago, turned up a couple days ago when her body was discovered in the Rideau River.

It has surfaced now that she was likely depressed and the medication she was taking at the time has been found to increase suicidal thoughts in other patients in the past.

The controversy around this story is that the girl's father had no idea she was depressed because of the doctor-patient priviledge. In a different situation, one might be able to argue that the parents should have been able to detect the depression, but in this case, his daughter was going to school in Ottawa… away from the family's Brampton (GTA) home.

I understand that the doctor-patient priviledge is an important concept to retain, but I can't help but side with the father here that the counsellors/doctors should have made an exception in this case given the limited contact between the girl and her family.

Thoughts?

[Russic]

Terribly tragic, but patient/doctor confidentiality exists for a reason. Like Fotze says, there needs to be a line.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Yup, you can't pick and choose when something like that applies, or it is a short road to getting rid of it all together.
Sad story, but would it have made a difference, if the father had known?
Would he have pulled her out of school and told her to come home, and would she have listened.
Too many ifs in this case to make a compelling case towards doing away with one of the fundamental tennants of medicine.

[Cowboy89]

Far too often in our society someone uses an outlier example to try to bring down rules, regulations, and policies that make life work better for the vast majority of people. Although this is a very difficult time for the father, someone should remind him that while maybe a change in policy might have saved his daughter, it would also be an extreme hinderance to the practice of medicine, which benefits a far greater number of people than the few who suffer these circumstances.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

I understand that the doctor-patient priviledge is an important concept to retain, but I can't help but side with the father here that the counsellors/doctors should have made an exception in this case given the limited contact between the girl and her family.

Thoughts?

There should be NO responsibility to disclose such information to parents just because they don't speak to each other. Perhaps there is a critical reason as to why. I went through a situation similar to this girl and I actually did all I could do so my dad wouldn't find out. See the "free range children" thread for examples of parents that feel they need to be involved in everything their children do.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Far too often in our society someone uses an outlier example to try to bring down rules, regulations, and policies that make life work better for the vast majority of people. Although this is a very difficult time for the father, someone should remind him that while maybe a change in policy might have saved his daughter, it would also be an extreme hinderance to the practice of medicine, which benefits a far greater number of people than the few who suffer these circumstances.

Agreed. How many people would not seek help for fear that their demons would be made public?

It's an absolute tragedy that this girl couldn't find the help she needed, but it was her decision not to tell her parents. The doctor had no right to.

[Dion]

With out that patient/doctor confidentiality i highly doubt my people would come forward with mental health problems. There is great ignorance on this illness and GPs could subject the patient to scorn and ridicule from family members. Patients need to feel they have a safe enviroment where they can go for help.

While i can appreciate the fathers anger and all, i think it's a tad misplaced. He should be questioning why her GP gave her a medication that can increase suicidal ideation. She was getting counselling for her problems and chances are, given time, would have worked well.

Another sad situation of a medication being over prescribed

[Flashpoint]

She was an adult. It was none of his business. End of story.

[BuzzardsWife]

Anti-depressants are handed out like candy. I agree..none of his business, but too bad there weren't more signs and better communication.

[Antithesis]

Have to add to the pile, here, Kev. fotze's right, the line has to be drawn somewhere. She had her reasons - whatever they were - to not tell her parents. That's part of having an adult child, I'd assume ... that you no longer control really any aspect of their lives, especially adult "children" who don't live at home. I know I'd be a lot more careful about what I do and don't say to a Doctor if they were able to turn around and tell my parents about it.