Sir, I am writing to highlight the importance of eliciting a comprehensive social history when managing a patient, to ensure care can be provided within which a patient's social and religious observances can be respected.

A maxillofacial oncology patient reviewed following surgery and radiotherapy complained of persistent and debilitating post-radiotherapy xerostomia. It was agreed that a combination of local artificial saliva replacement measures would be undertaken in the first instance to address this. One such supplement contains porcine mucin, which may be refused by patients observing meat-free diets or those of Muslim and Jewish faiths. In this case, upon informing the patient, the patient refused this supplementation on religious grounds and alternatives were identified.

The basic social history and patient bio data may not always identify such adherences and patients may be otherwise unaware of such ingredients within medicinal products. This demonstrates the importance for the clinician to understand the constituents of the products they use and inform the patient accordingly to ensure the patient's holistic needs are met.

1. London