As part of the cost-cutting drive, UK is now proposing to do a lot of diagnosis via email to GPs:
http://www.onmedica.com/newsarticle.aspx?id=1293991b-700f-4f63-b0e2-2872ce845c3a
This is interesting in light of the case against Dr Myhill, which had two parts. First part of the case was the website - which original GMC expert witness said classified as being like writing a book, or an opinion piece, and not something that related to questioning her ability to practice clinically. Second part of the case concerned B12 injections diagnosed and prescribed remotely. There were two parts to that, in turn: firstly, of course, that B12 is not part of the guidelines for ME (hence why Dr Myhill is now allowed to practice as a doctor again so long as she doesn't treat us effectively). But that part was never mentioned in the hearings: instead the focus was on remote diagnosis, and how it's supposedly bad practice to diagnose via phone consultation and questionnaire rather than face-to-face (which is of course impossible for many of us).
So it's most interesting, in terms of the collapse of any legitimate case against Dr Myhill, that one of the very things that she has just been disciplined for, claiming that to be bad clinical practice, is now being suggested to be rolled out nationwide. It's also interesting that NHS Direct, of course, gives treatment advice over the phone, and there are news stories querying that today as well. Compared to all these practices, Dr Myhill's rigorous questionnaire plus extensive phone consultation is dramatically more responsible, which I think gives an interesting perspective on the case.
http://www.onmedica.com/newsarticle.aspx?id=1293991b-700f-4f63-b0e2-2872ce845c3a
This is interesting in light of the case against Dr Myhill, which had two parts. First part of the case was the website - which original GMC expert witness said classified as being like writing a book, or an opinion piece, and not something that related to questioning her ability to practice clinically. Second part of the case concerned B12 injections diagnosed and prescribed remotely. There were two parts to that, in turn: firstly, of course, that B12 is not part of the guidelines for ME (hence why Dr Myhill is now allowed to practice as a doctor again so long as she doesn't treat us effectively). But that part was never mentioned in the hearings: instead the focus was on remote diagnosis, and how it's supposedly bad practice to diagnose via phone consultation and questionnaire rather than face-to-face (which is of course impossible for many of us).
So it's most interesting, in terms of the collapse of any legitimate case against Dr Myhill, that one of the very things that she has just been disciplined for, claiming that to be bad clinical practice, is now being suggested to be rolled out nationwide. It's also interesting that NHS Direct, of course, gives treatment advice over the phone, and there are news stories querying that today as well. Compared to all these practices, Dr Myhill's rigorous questionnaire plus extensive phone consultation is dramatically more responsible, which I think gives an interesting perspective on the case.
