28 Apr 09 CHILDREN’S HEALTH: ASKING QUESTIONS, HOUSE CALLS

Asking questions

One of the things you’ll probably have checked out when you chose your doctor was his or her ability to speak language you understand. Doctors, like specialists in any field, are so familiar with their professional language that they sometimes forget how confusing it is to other people. So if your child’s doctor slips into medical jargon that you don’t understand, ask for a translation. Don’t feel uncomfortable about asking, either. You must know what the doctor’s instructions are before you can carry them out, and it’s part of the doctor’s responsibility to make sure you are fully informed about all matters that concern your child’s health.

Sometimes you may find that you understand what the doctor is saying – but you don’t agree with it. In this case don’t hesitate to ask why the doctor has reached a certain decision, or what the alternatives are. If you still don’t feel comfortable with the doctor’s advice, don’t argue. You may get the doctor to agree with your point of view, but this may not be in the child’s best interests. If you and the doctor disagree on a diagnosis or a course of treatment, ask for a second opinion. This means going to another doctor and asking his or her professional advice on the issue. Your doctor may welcome this suggestion – or even make the suggestion before you do. A doctor may be hesitant to assume full responsibility for diagnosing and treating a difficult or unusual case. In such a situation it is common to have two or more consultants working together to determine the best course of treatment.

When you ask for a second opinion, your doctor should be able to suggest names of possible consultants. If you trust the doctor, you’ll trust his or her choice of other professionals. If you don’t, you’ll be looking for another doctor anyway.

It sometimes happens that when communication between parent and physician does break down, the only responsible course the parent can take is to find another doctor.

House calls

Many people who are now parents remember the days when doctors made house calls. And they wonder why doctors today don’t make house calls. Your modern physician will probably tell you that many wrong diagnoses resulted from examining sick children in their homes without adequate equipment. In the office, the doctor has a professionally set-up medical facility with all the equipment necessary for an accurate diagnosis. So whether or not a doctor makes house calls – and most don’t – should not affect your opinion of his or her competence. If you trust your doctor, and if you’re confident that he or she will always be available in an emergency, you’ve made a good choice.

A final word on the parent/physician partnership – and, again, it’s partly a matter of courtesy. If your physician is taking good care of your child, express your appreciation; doctors like to be thanked, just the same as anyone else. And if you’re not satisfied with the health care your child is receiving, the doctor should know that, too. A physician’s failure to please you may be due to many factors other than professional inadequacy, and if the doctor knows there’s a problem maybe he or she can correct it. If not, your best plan is to find another doctor.

Remember that although the doctor is your partner in caring for your child’s health, you’re still responsible for deciding just who this partner will be.

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