SottoPelle® is committed to the ethical treatment of our patients and to supporting the dedicated SottoPelle physicians that maintain the highest quality of patient care. Physicians are governed by core principles of medical ethics as defined by the American Medical Association (AMA). These top five mandates are the foundational requirements for all physicians when treating patients.
- A physician shall be dedicated to providing competent medical care, with compassion and respect for human dignity and rights.
- A physician shall uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.
- A physician shall respect the law and also recognize a responsibility to seek changes in those requirements which are contrary to the best interests of the patien
- A physician shall respect the rights of patients, colleagues, and other health professionals, and shall safeguard patient confidences and privacy within the constraints of the law.
- A physician shall continue to study, apply, and advance scientific knowledge, maintain a commitment to medical education, make relevant information available to patients, colleagues, and the public, obtain consultation, and use the talents of other health professionals when indicated.
All physicians take The Hippocratic Oath, which originated in ancient Greek medical texts, and it requires all physicians to uphold very specific ethical standards. The integrity of a physician is pivotal in his/her role as a medical practioner. Integrity is based on serving the patient’s best interests and gaining the experience, training, and continuing qualifications to accomplish that task.
There are doctors who don’t care about the qualifications or certifications. There are those who even cross the line and prescribe drugs yet they have no qualification to treat. This is lack of honesty and integrity.[1]
Why is the topic of ethics and BHRT so important? Many people hear Bio Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) and they don’t understand that although it’s a natural solution to hormonal imbalance, it must be prescribed, dosed, and maintained by a qualified medical professional. BHRT is not a therapy that should be obtained at the local beauty spa or administered by an unqualified medical professional. To engage is such activity is blatantly unethical as it endangers the health and well-being of the patient. Determining who is qualified to provide BHRT can be a source of confusion among patients and physicians alike. As the pioneer in BHRT, SottoPelle has developed the baselines and methodology that can only be acquired after decades of successful patient treatment. SottoPelle innovation has created BHRT specific and proprietary technology and dosing algorithms that have become the qualitative standard among most experienced BHRT physicians.
SottoPelle® is an organization steadfast to upholding and maintaining the highest standards for quality and ethical care for our patients. Before a physician can become a licensed SottoPelle physician he must be thoroughly vetted and trained by our staff. This means that SottoPelle checks that the medical professional is in good standing with his local medical board and that he has the perquisite medical training and background to be considered for SottoPelle methodology training. Once approved for the training and to become licensed, the physician has to successfully complete a clinical training with our medical trainers. After training, continuing education follows to assure that SottoPelle certified physicians are up to date with all aspects of HRT and related patient care. Our methodology was created by physicians who have a specific background in this area of medicine and practice. The evolution of the therapy is based in science, so every physician must have the required relevant medical background to understand all aspects of the method, and all the medical implications to the patient. This is the ethical application of our medical approach and therapy. Adhering to high standards and qualifications is why SottoPelle has consistently been trusted by patients and physicians as the providers of choice for Hormonal Imbalance concerns.
There is an overabundance of information on the internet, but googling information does not provide a medical degree. Physician marketing and advertising has become aggressive but being on the first page of Google is not an indicator for finding an ethical or qualified health care provider. Patients want medical care they can trust and count on for solutions for their health and lifestyle concerns. Different physicians and/or medical professionals have varied medical experience and knowledge. You would not go to a dentist for a cardiac issue, and you should not go to just any type of physician for Bio Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT).
The physician should be licensed and trained on this specific type of therapeutic treatment. A generalized understanding of BHRT is not enough. As previously noted, the SottoPelle methodology requires a comprehensive understanding of hormonal balance, familiarity of various medical conditions that can cause imbalance, and also the ability to medically and legally be allowed to implant the BHRT pellets under the skin.
Many of us have heard stories about “Botox” parties performed by unqualified people with substandard products, that have led to disastrous results. The same type of worst case scenarios can occur with BHRT practioners, if they do not have the experience, training, and knowledge of the therapy and appropriate dosing. BHRT requires a physician to medically evaluate the patient, perform lab work, and then understand the results to determine if patients are candidates for BHRT. Once the patient is medically cleared to get BHRT, then the practioner has to have the prerequisite and underlying training to successfully dose, implant the pellets and maintain the therapy. Without these baseline competencies, the likelihood for unsuccessful treatment and medical complications arise. Unfortunately, there are medical providers not following protocol or without the training required to successfully administer this therapy. This unethical behavior can lead to unexpected patient results, health concerns, and overall negative impact or perception of BHRT.
SottoPelle® supports the ethical physician and patient imperative: treating hormonal imbalance must only be performed by those medical providers with the essential requisite skills and qualifications.
Why would some practioners treat patients without these core training and experience? Just like every other profession, there are many ethical and responsible practioners with integrity, but then there are a bad few – that are putting the needs of their practice over that of the best interests of the patients. Others are established doctors who just think they can “figure it” out on their own, but your patient care should not be the learning experience nor should it be a “one size fits all approach.”
If you are considering BHRT, do your homework first. There is a lot of data and information out there, and it can be overwhelming. Don’t pick the best price or the number one on Google, this is your health, look at the experience, results, and reputation of the BHRT provider. Make sure your doctor is licensed, ethical (in good standing with local medical governing agencies), and is specifically trained to administer BHRT therapy to you. If you are not sure about your choices, or the doctor’s qualifications, call us and we can help you.
