I am writing to request that an informed consent policy be established, mandating that patients be required to review and sign an informed consent form before beginning any psychotropic medication such as Benzodiazepines, SSRI, SNRI, anti psychotic medications. These medications, while often essential for managing mental health conditions, carry risks of significant harm, including dependency, withdrawal symptoms, and long-term cognitive or physical side effects that can profoundly impact patients’ lives.
Currently, many patients are prescribed psychotropic drugs without a full understanding of potential risks and alternative treatment options. By implementing an informed consent requirement, we can help ensure that individuals make truly informed choices regarding their mental health care, leading to better treatment adherence, fewer adverse effects, and overall improved patient outcomes.
The consent process should ideally include:
- A clear explanation of the purpose of the medication.
- Potential side effects and risks associated with both short-term and long-term use.
- Information on possible withdrawal symptoms.
- Details about alternative treatment options, including non-pharmacological interventions.
A good model of such an informed consent form is available at https://www.benzoinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Benzodiazepine-Informed-Consent.pdf. It could serve as a guide for developing standardized consent documents that protect and empower patients.
Thank you for considering this important step in enhancing patient autonomy and safety. Implementing this policy would be a significant advance toward ethical and transparent mental health care.