Pedi. Is Mad at Getting Second Opinion

Many many MD's are afraid of or basisally dislike Holistic Practioners. Holistic Practioners do not use modern medicine and treat a symtom they treat the whole body hence the name holistic or whole (person). They treat mind, body and spirit and feel if there is an imbalance in one area sometimes the symtoms show in another area.

Personally if a doctor told me he didn't like me seeking another opinion, no matter where I went, I would be asking to have my records moved to a different doctor. Ultimately it's my body and my decision and if I think standing on my head whistling Dixie for 5 minutes a day will make me feel better, I'm gonna do it.

It's because they asked him to sign a note on another practitioner's diagnosis.

It was unethical for him to do so, and puts him in a difficult situation both legally & morally... Although it sounds like he did it anyway. I suspect he worded it in a way that won't risk his license... But that's what they're asking when they're asking a doctor to write a note like that.

It would have been fine if they'd said "We'd like to try an exclusion diet with our son." And worked with him... Instead they asked him to put his signature next to something he may or may not agree with, based on someone else's say so that he may not even know, much less trust or respect. Continuity of care doesn't exist in that situation. It's a real murky area since he's not working with the other practitioner and there is no information exchange or case management. It puts patients at risk, which is why doctors usually refuse to work like that.

Actually, the pediatrician isn't wrong about this. Your sister didn't simply have him taken for a second opinion but another medical professional (well, that's debatable) prescribed a treatment for your nephew that your sister is following.

It wasn't really done WITH the pediatrician but in a sort of, "Hey Doc, we went to see Mr. Naturopath over on Granola Lane and he figured these are common allergies and suggested taking Jimbob off of milk, wheat and corn. We decided to go with HIS treatment rather than following your treatment plan. Oh, and by the way, would you sign off on it so that the daycare can turn it in to the state for meal plans? kthnx bai."

What SHOULD have been done was, "Hey Doc, we've been thinking more about this and were hoping to pursue the allergy avenue a bit more. Can you refer us to a pediatric gastroenterologist that works with a pediatric nutritionist? I heard that they can do a breath test for milk intolerance and can help us figure out dairy allergies, and they can help us figure out other food allergies too. And a bonus is that they'll keep you up to date on everything and work with you on the treatment plan."

Your BIL went beyond getting a second opinion. Your nephew is receiving treatment from two doctors. If his pediatrician is not consulting with the second doctor, he has no idea how the new physician is treating the situation. It puts the pediatrician at risk. The pediatrician isn't crazy, he is just protecting himself and his practice.

Yes, because liability insurance is high enough without dealing with being liable for another doctors mistakes.

The doctor is not mad that they got a second opinion. He's protecting himself. Doctors do not share patients. He is telling them that he's not comfortable sharing the responsibility. He's making a reasonable request that the parents choose which one is going to treat their son.

Added: Sharing is not the right word. Doctors do share patients but they are in touch with each other when they do so. It's called a referral. They work together. They agree on the treatment. In this case the parents asked the pediatrician to sign off on a treatment prescribed by another doctor without those two doctors talking with each other. And the second doctor has a different philosophy and approach than the first one.

I have to agree with Riley.

Working in the medical field, one is either the Primary Care Physician, or they aren't. Now, I've had some pretty bizarre health issues and my physicians, with my permission, have consulted other physicians in order to insure the best treatment for me.

There is nothing wrong, ever, with getting a second opinion. However, receiving dual care for the same condition can be tricky if the primary care physician didn't make the referral or the doctors don't work in tandem. It can be a situation of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing leaving a patient in the middle. I can understand how that might be an uncomfortable position for a doctor to be in.

A note was requested from one doctor based on the suggestion of another and I can see how that would make the first doctor a little reticent to continue down that road.

I don't think he's mad.

Just my opinion.

My doctor had her receptionist tell me "The doctor is moving on to a new office and focusing on children who need her. Your child is not usually on medicine and she wants to help more sickly children."

I had tried to get a doctor across town to see my daughter for a possible referral for phyiscal therapy. She told me to go back to my ped and told her. We had been with her for 10 years and I wish I had gone out of town for the referral.

It's the parents right to get a second opinion and if the first Dr didn't like it, then see ya! It probably pissed him of so he had his medical assistant sent the letter.

Tell the parents they are better off without him if that is how his attitude is when his feelings get hurt.

S.

I personally don't think it's the doctor's business if you got a second, third and so on.......... any GOOD doctor would be okay with you doing as such.. I am also confused, how did the other doctor know you got a second opinion..?? but even so......... MANY people go to different doctors.. especially when it comes to a kid.. it's been six weeks and your nephew is still sick.. nothing wrong with trying to get to the bottom of it.. I am surprised that Alternative doc didn't also say, NO sugar <<<< that definitely can cause inflammation.. anyway.. your sister was doing what's right..

the allergy test can be done by blood. your dr doesnt think its an allergy to those things obviously. sounds like he has environmental allergies. if you like going the natural route do nasal rinses on him. he will feel like hes drowning but it will flush his sinus' out. my daughter has been doing nasal rinses since 3 1/2 and actually requests them now (shes 5)

My husband's doctor only asks if you see another doctor to be sure they send him all notes for his files. He never has to ask permission or feel he is wrong for doing so, he (doc) just wants to know what is going on with his patients.

Could it be the PED doesn't believe in the holistic ways? Although, I don't see the problem unless the holistic doctor asked that they pull him off the meds the PED prescribed and alter his diet.

Maybe they should seek other care. That is likely what I would do. Besides, my daughter's PED started out as the primary doctor my daughter would see and then had doctors coming in and out of the revolving door so that we never knew who we were seeing. It was obviously per business practice and we lost the primary care in primary care.