Question Your Pediatrician
Since I had my twins in 2003, I have had three pediatricians. We lost one when we moved and the new one here left a bad taste in my mouth. You rarely got to see the doctor and the physician assistants or nurse practitioners were rude and would question me on things like my vaccination choices and the occasional use of a bottle for my two year old son. So, now we are on our third kid doctor!
I know that doctors are only human, they make mistakes and have their own opinions. I know that they don’t always know the newest procedures or medications, only the ones who chose to read and/or learn about them do. I don’t have a problem telling a doctor what I want or don’t want, or questioning them on why they want to do something especially when it comes to my children.
A recent article on CNN talks about when it is OK to question your pediatrician’s advice. I think questioning your pediatrician is fine especially when it comes to opinions on parenting, like when to take away a bottle or pacifier. That is something, I think, is up to the parent and the child since no child is the same. Ask for different options, if your doctor is not willing to give you any then change doctors. You need to find a good fit for you and your family.
Do you question or interview your doctors before choosing them and do you question their advice?
pediatricians, choosing your doctor, choosing a pediatrician, pregnancy, infants, kids, parenting, parenting children
April 8th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
I wrote a very detailed piece on my site, phrased like an open letter to pediatricians. My (former) pediatrician questioned my “mother’s instinct” not once, but twice, and my child suffered unnecessary illness both times as a result. I think she just wanted to charge my insurance for two visits (three, if you count follow-up).