You are not suggesting, are you, that this young man be put back on these atypical psychotics because statistical studies supposedly show they work?
The mother who wrote this does not claim that her son's experience trumps all contrary evidence. Even the doctors at Mayo Clinic that she cites make no such claim. They said this happens in about 15 percent of the cases. That is statistically significant in its own right and ought to serve to put the prescribing psychiatrists on notice.
Too bad it didn't. It makes you wonder how many other "anecdotal" families are living in pure hell because of the apparent gross incompetence of such psychiatrists.
No, of course not. Don't be silly. I would expect ANY parent with a child having medical problems to closely monitor their health when they start taking a new drug. All the more so messing with the brain chemistry of someone with a brain problem. What I am saying is that this one case or even a number of cases is no reason for making a drastic regulatory decision. Start studies? Sure. Warnings and label changes if there is sufficient cause? Absolutely. Take the drug off the market, potentially ignoring the anecdotal evidence that a greater number of patients ARE helped by the drug? No.
Gross incompetence of the psychiatrists? They aren't usually in contact with the child 24x7. While I agree there is shared responsibility and the prescribing doctor can't simply fire-and-forget with the prescription pad, the parents have a significant duty too, to monitor the effects of the new meds and to get the doctor's attention pronto if something is wrong.