Fri Apr 26, 2019 11:04 am
#1690337
I'm trying to find out how best to ask the GP of an elderly mother, if she has dementia - or will the Dr/patient confidentiality prevent that from happening?
As a family, we would like to know, but have no idea as to how to find out, or even how to breach the question with our mother, who is terrified of having the illness as our father had it before he died and we know what that was like - it's a bit of a taboo subject - we don't even know if the GP has told mum if she does or doesn't have dementia.
We have seen a change in our mother over the past few years, and knowing one way or another would certainly help - it's easy to get frustrated with someone due to their behaviour, but if we knew why her behaviour is as it is, it would help hugely, especially with some family members who just think she is being difficult and perhaps making things worse for her with the way they interact with her.
If someone does have dementia, does a GP have a responsibility to let the next of kin know, DVLA, local social services etc?
Thoughts much appreciated.
As a family, we would like to know, but have no idea as to how to find out, or even how to breach the question with our mother, who is terrified of having the illness as our father had it before he died and we know what that was like - it's a bit of a taboo subject - we don't even know if the GP has told mum if she does or doesn't have dementia.
We have seen a change in our mother over the past few years, and knowing one way or another would certainly help - it's easy to get frustrated with someone due to their behaviour, but if we knew why her behaviour is as it is, it would help hugely, especially with some family members who just think she is being difficult and perhaps making things worse for her with the way they interact with her.
If someone does have dementia, does a GP have a responsibility to let the next of kin know, DVLA, local social services etc?
Thoughts much appreciated.