Natural and organic foods

Elizabeth was a “granola mom”—it was only natural and organic foods and therapies for her family. She belonged to a food co-op and ordered special foods and home remedies through the group.

Elizabeth was well read and conscientious, and she had a remedy for everything.

Little white pills that dissolved under the tongue treated everything from teething to bruising.

When her 8-year-old daughter Samantha had a sore throat, Elizabeth had her gargle with

colloidal silver—a remedy used before all the new and “dangerous” antibiotics. Samantha did

get over her sore throat, but three weeks later, she broke out in a rash, complained that her

joints hurt, and had swollen glands. This worried Elizabeth, and so she consulted a

conventional medical doctor.

Samantha was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, and the doctor prescribed antibiotic treatment.

Elizabeth had read that antibiotics could damage the immune system, and was reluctant to

give them to her daughter.

How can you as a nurse, encourage compliance with long-term antibiotic treatment without

alienating Elizabeth? To what extent does a parent have the right to refuse medical advice for

a child? When are alternative therapies helpful?