ARE ALL
CASES OF TARDIVE DYSKINESIA MERITORIOUS?
Absolutely not!! Many
cases have merit but most do not. The determination of what is and what is
not a meritorious case is very difficult and sometimes very expensive.
However, generally speaking, those cases in which Tardive Dyskinesia has
slowly developed over a lengthy period of treatment and which involve a
patient who could have reasonably opted not to continue to take a
neuroleptic medication once abnormal movements began, are usually cases
worthy of investigation. Conversely, Tardive Dyskinesia which develops in
a moderately to severely schizophrenic patient, who has no reasonable
choice but to continue to take neuroleptic medications to be functional in
society, is usually not a meritorious case. Similarly, cases involving a
very sudden onset of Tardive Dyskinesia at the inception of treatment
presents significant difficulties – unless the medication was never
indicated and/or unless the doctor continued the medication after seeing
or being advised of the onset of abnormal movements. These two scenarios –
no indication for the medication and/or continuing the neuroleptic
medicine after the onset of abnormal movements can often lead to
successful outcomes.
Note
Unfortunately, due to the incredible
complexity and cost of handling Tardive Dyskinesia cases, only cases of
severe and persistent Tardive Dyskinesia can be undertaken. Further, a
diagnosis of Tardive Dyskinesia by a competent neurologist or psychiatrist
is very important to the review and prosecution of potential Tardive
Dyskinesia cases.
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