Leprosy Mailing List – June 13, 2025
Ref.: (LML) What a newly diagnosed person can ask of their health professional
From: Joel Almeida, Mumbai, India
Dear Pieter and colleagues,
Congrats to Linda Lehman and Pieter Schreuder for putting themselves in the shoes of a person with lived experience of HD (H. Disease). Ref.:(LML) "What determines a successful leprosy control program: preventing disability and relieving human suffering or Zero leprosy?" 30 May 2025
What would each of us ask from our health professional if we received a diagnosis of HD?
For example:
"You started me on treatment. Now it is your job to take me safely back to full health and well-being. I intend to co-operate. Please be honest with me and my family. Give us bad news and good news as needed. Help to inform them and reassure them about my treatment. I understand that for me to be safe, you must test my nerve function every 3 months for at least two years. Then you can stop nerve damage before it becomes irreversible. You must follow me for at least five years so that I can be protected. Do not give anti-microbials to my family members unless they show clear evidence of disease, and then treat them fully and safely just as you are treating me. Protect confidentiality for me."
Perhaps others would ask differently or for other things..
HD disproportionately affects neglected people, including some with very little schooling. So they might not know that 85% of new nerve function impairment occurs without signs of inflammation/reaction (Croft et al 2000). Or that live HD bacilli have anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Even health workers might not know. But they can be told. Then anyone who is newly diagnosed can be given a safer journey back to full well-being.
With all sincerity,
Joel Almeida
________________________________________________________________________________
LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder
LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/
Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Leprosy Mailing List" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to leprosymailinglist+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/leprosymailinglist/4e294003-7f0e-4cc5-836b-82d8abded747n%40googlegroups.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment