Dear Kathy,

Hi, how are you doing? I have to say I've never used a questionnaire in practice, although I've looked at quite a few different forms and tried to come up with one that suits me. I've never achieved this because, well, it seems such an artificial way of having the patient present their symptoms. Luc De Schepper has the patient fill out the form first to save time and then he expands on certain areas during the consultation. And I know a lot of other people do something similar, but no, I don't do this, because I feel it's important for me to see and hear the patient answer questions in the least modified way as possible. I feel at a distinct disadvantage if I can't use all my senses to discern and understand the person in front of me.

At the risk of ticking off people (again!) I'd say that Internet prescribing is the LEAST favourable way to take and manage a case. Often in the past a case has been determined here on the briefest of keynote symptoms - yes I know it can be successful, but it can also be useless, or at worst, dangerous. Some people who post their cases here have impossibly high expectations of us and in certain instances these cases are obviously deeply miasmatic in nature, with strong psychological complexes. And then 7 homoeopaths suggest 7 different remedies. It is hardly an ideal situation. Yes, I know homoeopathic practitioners may not available in some cities or towns, or the quality of their training and practice are circumspect, but that does not mean (imo) that the quality of homoeopathy on offer here should be similarly circumspect.

Posting this questionnaire is an attempt to lift the standards of case taking on this site. I think it has already improved in the last year and I've certainly learned a lot from others' examples. A questionnaire has been asked for several times, I don't think it is the definitive questionnaire, or that people will even need to use it in every instance. It's just somewhere to start.

Regards,
Chris