def _exponentiate_general_case(pauli_term, param):
    """
    Returns a Quil (Program()) object corresponding to the exponential of
    the pauli_term object, i.e. exp[-1.0j * param * pauli_term]

    :param PauliTerm pauli_term: A PauliTerm to exponentiate
    :param float param: scalar, non-complex, value
    :returns: A Quil program object
    :rtype: Program
    """

    def reverse_hack(p):
        # A hack to produce a *temporary* program which reverses p.
        revp = Program()
        revp.inst(list(reversed(p.instructions)))
        return revp

    quil_prog = Program()
    change_to_z_basis = Program()
    change_to_original_basis = Program()
    cnot_seq = Program()
    prev_index = None
    highest_target_index = None

    for index, op in pauli_term:
        if 'X' == op:
            change_to_z_basis.inst(H(index))
            change_to_original_basis.inst(H(index))

        elif 'Y' == op:
            change_to_z_basis.inst(RX(np.pi / 2.0, index))
            change_to_original_basis.inst(RX(-np.pi / 2.0, index))

        elif 'I' == op:
            continue

        if prev_index is not None:
            cnot_seq.inst(CNOT(prev_index, index))

        prev_index = index
        highest_target_index = index

    # building rotation circuit
    quil_prog += change_to_z_basis
    quil_prog += cnot_seq
    quil_prog.inst(RZ(2.0 * pauli_term.coefficient * param, highest_target_index))
    quil_prog += reverse_hack(cnot_seq)
    quil_prog += change_to_original_basis

    return quil_prog