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Message: <blockquote data-quote="kitedoc" data-source="post: 1946781" data-attributes="member: 468714">Hi [USER=497501]@johnross87[/USER], I feel for you, particularly as others in the family appears to be either too scared or complacent about your father's health to do anything.From my own experiences but not as professional advice or opinion: and appreciating that I reside in Australia so am unaware of all the UK terms and laws which may be involved. Some thoughts.1) You say your father is still working. Does he drive to work and /or use vehicles, machinery of ant sort at work? If so:The question you might legitimately put to his GP is whether your father is safe to drive or operate machinery?The reasons for doing this could be, not that he is at risk of low blood sugars, but that his eyesight might be affected by high BSLs and in general if he is losing weight and appears sad or depressed (no one is expecting you to diagnose this, just have a concern) then could this affect his ability to drive safely.As much as this above might appear to be an 'excuse' to bring in the GP (which could be a criticism levelled at you for such action by family members) all of us have a legal responsibility to report driving safety concerns because there is not only a possible risk to your father but also to others on the road.2) You fear that he might be depressed  (and as a male sufferer of depression I know that depression can appear also as displays of frustration and anger)- again none of us untrained and unregistered can diagnose this but it does raise the question: Is your father depressed to the point where he is no longer able to make the best decisions for his own well-being? Only a doctor well versed in assessing your father can work out whether your father has requisite decision-making capacity - that is, the ability to understand fully the consequences of not taking his medication, of not getting his weight loss and mood fully investigated and sorted etc. This possibility might be another legitimate way to involve his GP. And if your father is depressed, treatment may make him well enough to be able to make decisions about his health.If someone is deemed unable to make decisions about their health a substitute decision-maker etc is appointed. Your mother may know whether she and your father have made advanced care directives (living wills) which include who is the substitute decision-maker etc. But such documents would have to have been made at the time that the person e.g. your father was fit to make such decisions.3) With perhaps less justification you could let the GP know that your father does not appear to be filling his scripts. This could prompt the GP to check your father's file. There may be other prescribed medication apart from that associated with his diabetes treatment which cessation of could have other dire effects. The prompt could be enough for the doctor to seek further information.Of course your father could downright refuse to see his doctor but the queries in 1) and 2) in particular could give the GP a legitimate reason to assess your father even when your father refuses.As always, kind acts are not always appreciated by those we love, and threats to their ability to drive, work and make one's own decisions carry risks.But that is why you are seeking to hand over responsibility of your father's care to his GP.Weight loss, possible depression and cessation of medication are what my GP calls 'red flags' about a patient - things not to be ignored - if his GP appears blase about them, another GP may need to be alerted.Your father is too important for worrying if one GP's toes are trodden on in the process!!My best wishes go with you, your family and your father.</blockquote>

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