Why Training Matters

[WisNeuro]

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http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/clinic-falsely-told-dozens-alzheimers-suits-45339781

This is why your degree and credentials matter.

 

[singasongofjoy]

oh my god. wow. I can't even think of words for how horrid that is.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Remember us talking about hacks out there and why we need to protect our field (and sub-specialties like neuropsych) to protect the public....this. This is what happens when states are lax in their regulations about practice.

 

[Indiana_Jane]

Terrible.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[cara susanna]

Some describe her as compassionate and easy to talk with, saying she ended therapy sessions by telling them to give her a hug. At her suggestion, a few patients appeared in articles touting the benefits of her holistic treatments, which included memory games and daily doses of coconut oil. But they also say she fought hard against medication and getting a second opinion.

There is so much wrong within this paragraph that I don't even know where to begin.

 

[WisNeuro]

Well, when you give out false diagnoses, you certainly don't want them going to a real doctor t get a second opinion. Otherwise, they may stop buying all of your supplements and brain games.

 

[deleted343839]

The amount of harm done by frauds like this doesn't get enough attention, IMO. This is a really egregious example. But I'm reminded of other patients I've seen who've been told they have various disorders that don't fit. In my experience a lot of these "diagnoses" come from faith-based and addictions counselors.

 

[NeuroLady]

When money matters more than... anything else?

 

[Lunatik]

While this is certainly bad, and crooks and "clinics" like these need to be kept in check, I think it goes without saying that throughout the ages a great many patients have actually been helped by average Janes and Joes who bear no medical degrees. For whatever it's worth, that help is always worth something to someone. 🙂

 

[futureapppsy2]

There is so much wrong within this paragraph that I don't even know where to begin.

Yeesh! It's like a laundry list of ethical violations with some bonus boundary issues.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

While this is certainly bad, and crooks and "clinics" like these need to be kept in check, I think it goes without saying that throughout the ages a great many patients have actually been helped by average Janes and Joes who bear no medical degrees. For whatever it's worth, that help is always worth something to someone. 🙂

Agreed, and I don't think anyone would disagree with you. The sticking point in this and similar examples is, of course, the offender's misrepresentation (or outright manufacturing) of credentials, which allows them to serve in an "expert" role and which has a significant chance of altering the actions of the patient.

 

[BuckeyeLove]

wasn't it about 10-15 years ago where we had people being conned into the re-birthing thing by similar charlatans? And then a girl subsequently died. So yeah, this kind of stuff is absolutely unacceptable.

 

[PsyDr]

Let me introduce you to my favorite Florida resident: Malachi Love-Robison, MD,PsyD,PhD, ND, HHP who allegedly completed these four doctoral degrees by 18.

https://www.google.com/amp/heavy.co...listic-alternative-medical/amp/?client=safari

 

[Sanman]

So what you are saying is that repeated blows to the head are not indicative of Alz dementia? How does this woman even have a PhD in physiology if she cannot tell the difference. Man, that dx is just common sense medical history.

 

[smalltownpsych]

So what you are saying is that repeated blows to the head are not indicative of Alz dementia? How does this woman even have a PhD in physiology if she cannot tell the difference. Man, that dx is just common sense medical history.

Wait, I'm confused, did the patient have the repeated blows to the head or did the lady running the clinic?
😛

 

[Fan_of_Meehl]

Wait, I'm confused, did the patient have the repeated blows to the head or did the lady running the clinic?
😛

Apparently there is a lot of confusion/conflation between concussion/mTBI and Alzheimers floating around out there. I think it's part of the whole chronic traumatic encephalopathy / Will Smith 'Concussion' movie hysteria. We try to have rational conversations with veterans in our polytrauma clinic and reassure them based on the clinical and scientific literature. However, it is amazing the number of veterans (and family members) who view us with suspicion when we don't share their concerns that the bump on the head and brief loss/alteration of consciousness that they experienced several years ago will somehow progressively destroy their lives and all areas of neurological and psychosocial functioning in the coming years. We can look them in the eye and say, 'No...we don't believe that your 'condition' is going to get worse (progress) over time.' One has actually responded, 'So...you don't think Alzheimers is a progressive disease?' 'No...we're not talking about Alzheimers, we're talking about a remote history of mild traumatic brain injury (concussion).' 'But what about the Tau in my neurons?'

Unfortunately, we have people in the vet centers (obviously, not professional health care providers) telling many veterans who comes through with irritability, anger issues, insomnia, anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse (you name it) that 'these are all symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI.' Never mind that they are service-connected for PTSD, are drinking copious amounts of alcohol every night, have insanely stressful lives and dysfunctional family dynamics...their self-reported 'memory problems' and behavioral dyscontrol is undoubtedly--in the professional opinion of the self-appointed expert at the vet center--'clearly due to a TBI.'

 

[AcronymAllergy]

To add to this is a general distrust/suspicion about the VA. So if, as clinicians, we don't go along with what's said, it's because the VA is trying to cover things up. I've heard of community providers essentially telling patients as much--"this is all due to that concussion you had. The VA can help! But if they don't, it's because they're trying to screw you over."

I think part of it is that clinicians and other folks who don't work/have expertise in the area feel like they're pulling a House-esque maneuver by "uncovering" this history of head injury, and then miraculously connecting all the dots between that etiology and the current symptoms. Unbeknownst to them, they may just end up doing iatrogenic harm.

I could (metaphorically) slap Will Smith for Concussion. Sigh.

 

[Sanman]

I've seen it go both ways at the VA (It's all due to brain injury; none of it is due to brain injury). The truth is these are usually complex patients with a mix of issues. All of the Iraq/afghanistan vets I saw, in particular, were the most difficult. Watching your friends being blown up while being well within the blast radius is going to have an effect on you. There needs to be more education on what that is because I do feel that people misunderstand the severity of these issues. Particularly one more severe TBI vs multiple repetitive smaller injuries.