Med student here.
Would like attending opinion on this. Educational question.
If you encounter a patient with long-term illicit drug use who demonstrates signs of brain damage on imaging but who is otherwise asymptomatic and has no complaints, does anything need to be done for such a patient? does it really matter? preventing the patient from further engaging in drug use is obvious, but let's say this guy has completely given up drugs and is living a healthy lifestyle now, would you need to do anything for him? or would you just send him home and tell him he's fine?
Thanks.
Would like attending opinion on this. Educational question.
If you encounter a patient with long-term illicit drug use who demonstrates signs of brain damage on imaging but who is otherwise asymptomatic and has no complaints, does anything need to be done for such a patient? does it really matter? preventing the patient from further engaging in drug use is obvious, but let's say this guy has completely given up drugs and is living a healthy lifestyle now, would you need to do anything for him? or would you just send him home and tell him he's fine?
Thanks.