Steroid Medication and Emergency Injection Refusal Letters

Working with the ADSHG Clinical Advisory Panel we have created these letters to support and provide you with practical resources when advocating for yourself in a healthcare setting.

Whilst we wish it wasn't necessary, due to Addison's and adrenal insufficiency being rare conditions, it is necessary to provide our members with a letter for them to present to medical staff in the event that they are refused their steroid medication (whilst an inpatient) or an emergency injection when they are at risk of adrenal crisis. However, feedback from our members tells us that it is.

As such, we have created, and had approved by our ADSHG Clinical Advisory Panel, two 'refusal' letters that you can use to try and explain the vital importance of you receiving time-critical steroid medication, or a time-critical hydrocortisone emergency injection.

The aim of these letters is not to aggravate health care professionals who are there to help support you, but rather to emphasise the critical nature of the interventions required, and to signpost them to the NICE guidelines on the identification and management of adrenal insufficiency.

These letters are now available in member packs for new members, can be downloaded and printed for free or ordered from our online shop. If you are a healthcare professional, please explore our further resources to support you.

Emergency Injection Refusal

A letter for you to present to medical staff in the event that you are refused emergency treatment for suspected adrenal crisis.

It signposts the medical staff to the NICE Guidelines, and asks them to sign to agree that they have been informed of the risks of not providing you with emergency treatment.

Print Emergency Hydrocortisone IM (injection) or IV Refusal Letter

Order from our online shop

Glucocorticoid Medication Refusal

A letter for you to present to medical staff in the event that you are refused your usual time-critical steroid replacement medication.

It signposts the medical staff to the NICE Guidelines, and asks them to sign to agree that they have been informed of the risks of not providing you with your steroid replacement medication.

Print Glucocorticoid Medication Refusal Letter

Order from our online shop

We aim to provide educational and supportive resources to help you feel empowered, support your patient self-advocacy, and receive the medical care you need.

Dealing with a rare, chronic health condition can be exhausting and overwhelming, especially when you have to explain the care you require to healthcare professionals who may not have come across Addison's or adrenal insufficiency before. You are not alone in these feelings - please explore our resources below to support you.

Stress of a long-term condition

How to reduce stress and resources to help you - you are not alone.

Online Forum

Speak with others who have Addison's and adrenal insufficiency.

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