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There has likely come a time, no matter how good a relationship that you have with your Pediatrician, when you have disagreed with what your doctor wants you to do.
What do you do at these times?
Do you talk about it?
Do you ignore your Pediatrician's advice and just do what you think is best?
Do you change Pediatricians?
This poll from the Pediatric's Guide at about.com, What do you do when you disagree with your Pediatrician?, shows that the majority of people polled actually do talk to their Pediatrician about their concerns. This is usually the best thing to do. The poll also shows that a large number of parents, in this situation, ignore their Pediatrician's advice and simply do what they think is right.
As in parenting, there is rarely one right way to do things in medicine. Your Pediatrician probably chooses his (or her) treatment plans and advice based on what he thinks is best, taking into consideration his experience and what he thinks will work best for you. But that doesn't mean that there aren't other equally 'right' ways of doing the same thing or treating the same condition.
For example, if you are having sleep problems with your child and your Pediatrician knows that you like for your children to sleep with you in a 'family bed,' then she probably won't suggest the Ferber method for helping your child sleep better. If she does, instead of ignoring her advice and seeking help elsewhere, you might remind her that you want your child to sleep with you, but you do need some help getting her to sleep through the night in your bed and see if your Pediatrician has any ideas to help.
Other situations where you might disagree with your Pediatrician include treating your child with alternative medicine, refusing vaccines, the use or over-use of antibiotics, discipline techniques, and nutrition.
What should you do if you bring your child to the doctor because he has a runny nose and cough and your Pediatrician prescribes an antibiotic but you don't think he needs it? You might just say 'Is an antibiotic really necessary right now?' Your Pediatrician might respond that yes, antibiotics are necessary because your child has already been sick for 10-14 days and she suspects a sinus infection, or she might suggest that since your child appears well, it could be just as appropriate to wait a few days and only start the antibiotic if he isn't getting better. Ignoring your Pediatrician's advice and simply not getting the medication or not giving it to your child could cause problems if your child really did need it.
Or what if you think your child really just has allergies and doesn't need an antibiotic. Instead of going to another doctor, you might just ask your Pediatrician about the possibility of allergies and offer reasons why you think that, such as allergies run in the family, or he always has these symptoms this time of year.
Another possible source of disagreement can occur if your child is sick and your Pediatrician thinks she is okay and should just be observed for a few days without doing any tests, but you think it is more serious and want something done. Instead of going home and worrying about your child, if you discuss your concerns with your Pediatrician she might be able to reassure you why the tests really aren't necessary. Or she might do some screening tests to help reassure you that your child is well.
Of course, if your Pediatrician is really resistant to helping you raise your child your own way, such as insisting that you child must eat meat when you want to raise her as a vegetarian, then you might want to find a doctor that shares you beliefs or is at least open minded enough to help you find a healthy way to do what you want to do.
Although your Pediatrician is likely very busy, I think he or she would likely rather spend time addressing your concerns during a visit instead of having to take extra time later or risk losing a patient. Even if your Pediatrician doesn't convince you that he is right, you may get extra information about the pros and cons of what you want to do so that you can make the best decision for your child.
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