What do you think of a family member who refuses discussion of the safety of a drug which she recommends?

[vohkinne]

Here are the details. I will not mention any identities in this post for privacy and objectivity reasons. This is the order of events:

1. Maternal grandmother warns that Risperidone can cause men to grow breasts.
2. Paternal aunt claims that is nonsense, and cannot possibly be true.
3. I do my own research, I call the manufacturer and find numerous resources, many from Sheller, P.C., an *internationally* accredited law firm, which had indicated that my maternal grandmother was in fact correct. The manufacturer also admitted that this is common (in other words, did *not* state that it was a rare side effect).
4. Paternal aunt refuses discussion saying “I'm not interested”, and “I've gotta go. Bye”, over the telephone.
5. Father refuses discussion, saying “It's [this discussion] disparaging [to him and his sister]”, in an elevated tone of voice.

I call my aunt again later in hopes to pursue further discussion. I explain that given that she was the one who recommended the drug in the first place, it is not moral to refuse safety discussion of something you recommend. She says “You're right”, and “The conference is over, and… you win”, and states “I've gotta go. Bye”. A counselor who I called, and explained these concerns to, and stated to that I feel that this makes their integrity questionable, said “Every drug, has side effects, and so it's always risk versus benefit. If the benefit of that drug outweighs the risk, then they… the doctors will prescribe it. Now with Risperidone, it does have, side effects and it has quite a few side effects, and of course they have to *list* them all. But the *benefit*… are, they [outweigh the risks].

I interrupt, and I stated “Right, well, I mean a law firm had backed my grandmother's statements that it can cause, uh… men to grow breasts and there were various lawsuits against the company because the drug, while it has an application, was pushed for unapproved purposes. [It was] *supposed* to be used, for more serious things like adults with psychosis but it was prescribed, to *children* with hyperactive, and oppositional defiant, issues, which, was unapproved, by the FDA, and had caused serious problems, and the *Sheller, P.C. Law Firm*, when I did my homework and looked that up…”

The counselor interrupts me, politely stating, “Right, O.K., now, listen to me, 'cause I listened to you a long time. You're gonna listen to me. Uh… that doesn't mean it's a unsafe drug. Even though it has the side effects like that doesn't mean it's unsafe. So *this would be* something to talk to… your, doctor about. Uhm… the other, assertions, that it's a… a thing of *integrity*, within the family… I don't think so, uhm… of course I'd have to see the family… I … there's not enough for me to make that… [assertion] but, because people have their own perspectives, their own story, uh…”

I interrupt the counselor, stating, “Well, I mean what made me question […] what drove me to the questioning point when she said, “I don't want to hear it I'm not gonna waste my time with this”, after she had already recommended the drug. If she was the one who *recommended the drug to me*, and she doesn't want to hear, evidence that it could potentially put my safety in danger whether it's true or not indicates that she is not concerned about my safety in my opinion.”

The counselor states “[Well I won't go that far] because there's *all kinds* of things that people think about, and it may be, in her mind, she *considers* this a safe drug, and, uhm… she doesn't want to talk about a side effect that's been found in, .0005% of the people. You see what I'm saying? So, *no*, I would not say it's a matter of family integrity. I would say there's a lot *going on*, but that doesn't mean, she doesn't care for you.

I respond saying, not knowing what more to say, “Right, well I mean I am *questioning* her integrity because of that because she did not appear to be concerned about my safety”.

The counselor responds, saying “O.K, well, uhm… that's… that's my, uh… and I do have another call coming in so…”

We then exchange telephone numbers and conclude the conversation.

After the conversation, my mother stated that the counselor was completely un-objective, and was “covering her a?ss”, and that she was an idiot. My advocate, who was hired by my mother but is supposed to be neutral, stated, after listening to the recorded telephone conversation, “It was as I said on the phone and I suspected it to be. The person seemed to circumvent and also to in form you very generally on matters.” On the other hand, it's not surprising that my mother would say that (about anybody who disagrees with her negative beliefs about my paternal family) given that my family is divorced and of course both sides will be in opposition.

My concern is that before I make my final judgment on th

[siwili]

Here are the details. I will not mention any identities in this post for privacy and objectivity reasons. This is the order of events:

1. Maternal grandmother warns that Risperidone can cause men to grow breasts.
2. Paternal aunt claims that is nonsense, and cannot possibly be true.
3. I do my own research, I call the manufacturer and find numerous resources, many from Sheller, P.C., an *internationally* accredited law firm, which had indicated that my maternal grandmother was in fact correct. The manufacturer also admitted that this is common (in other words, did *not* state that it was a rare side effect).
4. Paternal aunt refuses discussion saying “I'm not interested”, and “I've gotta go. Bye”, over the telephone.
5. Father refuses discussion, saying “It's [this discussion] disparaging [to him and his sister]”, in an elevated tone of voice.

I call my aunt again later in hopes to pursue further discussion. I explain that given that she was the one who recommended the drug in the first place, it is not moral to refuse safety discussion of something you recommend. She says “You're right”, and “The conference is over, and… you win”, and states “I've gotta go. Bye”. A counselor who I called, and explained these concerns to, and stated to that I feel that this makes their integrity questionable, said “Every drug, has side effects, and so it's always risk versus benefit. If the benefit of that drug outweighs the risk, then they… the doctors will prescribe it. Now with Risperidone, it does have, side effects and it has quite a few side effects, and of course they have to *list* them all. But the *benefit*… are, they [outweigh the risks].

I interrupt, and I stated “Right, well, I mean a law firm had backed my grandmother's statements that it can cause, uh… men to grow breasts and there were various lawsuits against the company because the drug, while it has an application, was pushed for unapproved purposes. [It was] *supposed* to be used, for more serious things like adults with psychosis but it was prescribed, to *children* with hyperactive, and oppositional defiant, issues, which, was unapproved, by the FDA, and had caused serious problems, and the *Sheller, P.C. Law Firm*, when I did my homework and looked that up…”

The counselor interrupts me, politely stating, “Right, O.K., now, listen to me, 'cause I listened to you a long time. You're gonna listen to me. Uh… that doesn't mean it's a unsafe drug. Even though it has the side effects like that doesn't mean it's unsafe. So *this would be* something to talk to… your, doctor about. Uhm… the other, assertions, that it's a… a thing of *integrity*, within the family… I don't think so, uhm… of course I'd have to see the family… I … there's not enough for me to make that… [assertion] but, because people have their own perspectives, their own story, uh…”

I interrupt the counselor, stating, “Well, I mean what made me question […] what drove me to the questioning point when she said, “I don't want to hear it I'm not gonna waste my time with this”, after she had already recommended the drug. If she was the one who *recommended the drug to me*, and she doesn't want to hear, evidence that it could potentially put my safety in danger whether it's true or not indicates that she is not concerned about my safety in my opinion.”

The counselor states “[Well I won't go that far] because there's *all kinds* of things that people think about, and it may be, in her mind, she *considers* this a safe drug, and, uhm… she doesn't want to talk about a side effect that's been found in, .0005% of the people. You see what I'm saying? So, *no*, I would not say it's a matter of family integrity. I would say there's a lot *going on*, but that doesn't mean, she doesn't care for you.

I respond saying, not knowing what more to say, “Right, well I mean I am *questioning* her integrity because of that because she did not appear to be concerned about my safety”.

The counselor responds, saying “O.K, well, uhm… that's… that's my, uh… and I do have another call coming in so…”

We then exchange telephone numbers and conclude the conversation.

After the conversation, my mother stated that the counselor was completely un-objective, and was “covering her a?ss”, and that she was an idiot. My advocate, who was hired by my mother but is supposed to be neutral, stated, after listening to the recorded telephone conversation, “It was as I said on the phone and I suspected it to be. The person seemed to circumvent and also to in form you very generally on matters.” On the other hand, it's not surprising that my mother would say that (about anybody who disagrees with her negative beliefs about my paternal family) given that my family is divorced and of course both sides will be in opposition.

My concern is that before I make my final judgment on th

Sorry, your story is a little hard to follow with all the people and back and forths.

Are you saying a councelor told you to take a drug? ONLY a doctor prescribes medication.

If you feel the side effects are not worth the drug, then you need to go to your doctor and tell him (I'm assuming you are a boy) and ask what else you can consider.

They can't force you to take a drug that has adverse effects and that you don't want to take. There are plenty of alternatives.

I would also try to get a different counselor. SHe's suppose to counsel, not tell you to shut the heck up and then prevaracate to the point where she basically said NOTHING.