J., age 11, is hospitalized and diagnosed as havingschizophrenia. His parents are told that he should be given anantipsychotic medication to clear up his thoughts. Having been toldthat only this medication will help, the parents give consentwithout any additional information. J. is given Prolixin. Afterbeing on the drug for two months, he starts to develop strangemovements. Without warning, his arm jerks straight up over hishead, or his foot and leg jerk from time to time. These movementsare uncontrollable. This was diagnosed as tardive dyskinesia. Theseare side effects suffered by most patients who use the drug for along time. In 1 or 2 percent of the cases, the side effectsseverely incapacitate the patient. Some experts argue that there isvirtually no danger if the antipsychotics are used for only a shorttime.
Should the physician have informed the patient of theside effects, which are serious and always occur with continuedusage? Does therapeutic privilege apply here?
