Poll: Is Big Doctor Watching...Your Kids?
14 comments
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My husband has worked in health care for many years. It was decided upon several years ago with an agreement between the American Medical Assoc and the mental health assoc (don’t know the official name) that patients would be given a screener for mental health. I’ve seen doctors, dentists, nurses etc… ask these questions. The purpose is to screen for those who are abused and/or having mental health problems like depression.
The mental stability questions were actually designed so that most people would answer yes to at least one. Questions like, are you ever sad or blue would normally get a yes as we all have an off day. The agreement was that medical doctors would then refer a patient who said yes to any question to a mental health doctor – the deal was created to be sure there was continued business. There was some other part of the agreement so that the mental health professionals would end up sending patients to doctors but I don’t remember that information.
In our state at the age of 13 many doctors and nurses encourage the children to go into the exam room without parents. They also have questionaires they are suppossed to ask the children with questions such as, are you sexually active, are you attracted to men/women/both, do you take drugs, wear a seatbelt, drink alcohol, feel your parents are too strict, feel unsafe at home, have a good relationship with your parents etc…
I personally feel asking my minor child about sexual issues is a violation. If I have raised my child to remain pure in body and mind, then the medical establishment has just violated my child. I also do not appreciate them trying to give my child advice about what sex they should be attracted to and what they should do about it. Medical professionals in our state are suppossed to refer my child to a counselor who will encourage them and help them explore their feelings if they say they are attracted to the same sex.
Then there are all the leading questions such as do you have a good relationship with your parents. How many teens are going to say, oh yes! Most teens at one point or another are upset with their parents for the rules and choices they are given at home! This is not a sign of abuse or need of intervention.
I’ve even seen pediatric nurses embarrassed and having a hard time asking some of these questions of my pre-teen son. When asked, the nurse said it was required, she had to in order to keep her job.So, in my opinion, the most important thing to do is to talk to your child and educate them ahead of time. Discuss what kinds of questions may be asked of them. Teach them they have the right to say they will not answer a question because it is a private matter. If you are in a state like mine, let your child know ahead of time they may be asked to go into the exam room without a parent. I always tell my child if you feel you would be more comfortable without me I am fine with that but if you’d rather me be there it is completely your choice and no one can tell you otherwise.
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I always go with my children when they visit the Dr, which doesn’t happen very often. The last time we went to the Dr was for my daughter, she ended up having strep throat. She hadn’t been sick, so therefore, hadn’t been to the Dr in about 2 years. The nurse gave me a very hard time about this and kept asking where else she went to the Dr. I spoke with the Dr about this…she said she’d talk with her nurse.
There’s NO way my children are going into that exam room with questions like those without me!
The argument that some children are abused, so all must be asked these questions is ridiculous. Sorry. The information they glean from those questions can certainly be used against you, if they so choose. Just homeschooling can be “cause for concern”.My husband and I accompany each other into our checkups, there’s no way I’m not doing the same for my children. If a Dr has a problem with that, it’s time to change Dr’s.
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On one hand it’s good of doctors to ask certain questions if they suspect that the child is being abused at home. On the other hand it can be very intrusive and bordering on plain nosiness.
I ALWAYS went in with our son when he was under age.Great blogpost, JoJo!
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Thank you Heather! Great advice!
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I thought about that also. How silly is it to ask the child with the mom standing there if she is the one who is abusing him.
I once had a dr upset with me for coming into the room with my dd when he was examining her. It was for a shoulder injury torn ligament or something due to Karate. No bruises or anything. His argument was though that she was old enough to go in herself. Well, she was but I’m the mom and I wanted to know what was wrong and ask some questions and make sure HE didn’t abuse her!