Pediatrician kicking us out

[Sweetiemommy]

Not one, but two pediatricians have now "removed" us from the practice due to our "noncompliance" with current CDC recommendations on vaccination. It is my feeling that I am being forced to choose between blindly vaccinating my children (and being stripped of my parental rights) and being able to participate in the medical community as a patient. I feel that this is unethical on their part and creating scare tactics to force people to vaccinate, as well as furthering the divide between people who seek to participate in their own health and people who find it acceptable to follow the advice of their physician without question.
What do you think?

[Deborah]

I guess the trick is to fire them first!

Have you looked for a family practice doctor?

[claddaghmom]

It happens a lot. Interview first?

The medical industry is like the military. It is self-correcting. Those who cannot or will not comply either leave voluntarily, get damaged/die or are 'forced' out.

[ZoeyZoo]

I totally agree with you. DH thinks I'm paranoid because I always mention we can X doctor but not Y, etc. We don't do WBVs and haven't had any need really to see a doctor for dd but I go out of my way to find providers that will take us if need be.

[Sweetiemommy]

The sad thing is that I did interview first and have several "sympathetic" physicians in the practice, but the practice as a whole has decided to invoke a policy. That was the pediatricians office. I had also developed a relationship with a family practictioner (who my husband and I see) who was also "okay" with my decisions as a parent. I called them to switch over and they informed me that they could not see us anymore because we do not vaccinate according to CDC recommendations. So, understand that this is TWO practices in my town refusing to treat CURRENT patients who do not follow the ENTIRE schedule. I am just sick thinking about it. Basically I am being refused medical care and services for making personal decisions that are my RIGHT, as protected by state and federal law. I just really think it is unethical of them. Keep in mind, I have a baby due any day now (homebirth) who is supposed to see a pediatician within 72 hours of birth for various check up type things. What am I supposed to do?? Go to Patient First? I am furious.

[Kirsten]

Wow, that reeks. What state do you live in?

[ShadowMoon]

I agree with you. Keep looking though, there are some good docs out there. Our ped isn't that crunchy but he's very open-minded, encourages parents to educate themselves on their child's medical care, and doesn't even mention vaxes to me anymore, (unless I bring them up). Good luck

[anj_rn]

In Texas physicians are required to give you 30 days notice (in writing) prior to terminating the relationship. Since your newborn would not be a current patient, they would not be obliged to see the baby.

You could always take them to a random doc (even one that wants to vax) for that 1st visit. Since most babies are vaxed w/ Hep B at birth, they might not think to ask.

[SunshineJ]

I wonder with the new health program that's trying to pass if there isn't something in there that's going to result in us seeing a lot more of this.

[Sweetiemommy]

I'm in PA, which has very strict laws protecting religious exemption due to the large Amish population. But obviously these are private practices, so they can refuse us services, they did give us 30 days notice, but like the pp said, that doesn't cover our new baby.

[Sweetiemommy]

I think we can depend on that...also I think the swine flu controversy has something to do with it....and both of those practices are affiliated with the local hospital and I'm guessing that they are all getting together and banding against those of us in "non compliance." I can't get over the wording, NON COMPLIANCE. What, I'm an outlaw for making a personal decision? Sooo, frustrating, not only for my personal situation, but for society at large. It is a backlash, in my opinion.

Originally Posted by SunshineJ

I wonder with the new health program that's trying to pass if there isn't something in there that's going to result in us seeing a lot more of this.

[Deborah]

Yes, it is a nasty form of bullying, I agree. And a backlash.

But I think they are shooting themselves in the ass, because with managed care, unvaxed kids are great to have in the practice. They get the payment per head, but don't have to provide nearly as many services. Most parents who don't vaccinate are prepared to deal with normal childhood illnesses on their own and generally the children aren't sick any more often (and perhaps less) than the kids who are getting jabbed all the time.

Some local doctor who does accept non-vaxing families is going to clean up.

In Vermont, the midwife can sign off on the baby's health. My grandson didn't go in for a visit to a doctor until he was a month old.

[Tracy]

Originally Posted by Sweetiemommy

I'm in PA, which has very strict laws protecting religious exemption due to the large Amish population. But obviously these are private practices, so they can refuse us services, they did give us 30 days notice, but like the pp said, that doesn't cover our new baby.

And coincidentally, the Amish have .......1 in 10,000 cases of autism.

you are in a good state. You'll find a decent doctor.
Maybe there is Osteopath who would be a good fit.

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

Originally Posted by SunshineJ

I wonder with the new health program that's trying to pass if there isn't something in there that's going to result in us seeing a lot more of this.

i don't wonder, i'm positive that there's somethign somehwere.

[LilNicksMom]

Hi,

I really sympathize with you ... just awful.

Just thinking ... I saw someone else posted somewhere in a similar situation that maybe you could contact an area chiropractor and ask if they know of a doctor/ped. Good luck.

[Plaid Leopard]

I hope you find a doctor that works well for you.

I always wonder if these doctors that are firing patients for non-compliance are completely up to date on all of the vaccines themselves.

[crunchy_mommy]

One of my #1 questions with any pedi is "Will you kick us out of the practice for not vaccinating?"

I do think it's ridiculous that they kick you out, but you're better off having that knowledge before you bother going to any appointments with them.

Our first pedi "allowed" us to not vaccinate so I thought we'd be fine, but after several appointments I felt he was the type to call CPS or something over us not vaccinating -- our viewpoints were just too different and he seemed to think we didn't have our son's best interests in mind!

Our new pedi (family doc actually) is 100% behind us with our vax decisions and it's way better. However it was a difficult switch for me personally... The new doc is very homeopathic-oriented and I am not into homeopathy. But it was a worthwhile trade-off, we don't HAVE to give DS any homeopathic remedies and the new doc is way more naturally-minded etc. It's too bad you have to choose like that though, and give up what some of the more medically-oriented doctors have to offer. Not to mention, for us, we have to drive MUCH further to see the new doc.

[bbrandonsmom]

I had to comment-I keep seeing this more and more and boy is it frustrating. I have no problems so far from our ped about vaxes, though we don't go very often. I have found an alternative dr to try out, just haven't gone yet. I wouldn't stay w/ a ped who wanted to kick me out anyhow, since vaccines prob won't be the only issue to come up. I thought the American Physicians Assoc, had a statement regarding this issue, but I could be wrong. I don't have my bookmarks. I thought peds couldn't legally kick you out for not vaccinating. Is it because they aren't getting $, or is it because of the cdc recommendations, or are they afraid the unvaxed kids will infect the other kids?

[Deborah]

Originally Posted by bbrandonsmom

I had to comment-I keep seeing this more and more and boy is it frustrating. I have no problems so far from our ped about vaxes, though we don't go very often. I have found an alternative dr to try out, just haven't gone yet. I wouldn't stay w/ a ped who wanted to kick me out anyhow, since vaccines prob won't be the only issue to come up. I thought the American Physicians Assoc, had a statement regarding this issue, but I could be wrong. I don't have my bookmarks. I thought peds couldn't legally kick you out for not vaccinating. Is it because they aren't getting $, or is it because of the cdc recommendations, or are they afraid the unvaxed kids will infect the other kids?

all of the above, plus I think some doctors don't want to see healthy kids without the vaccines because it undermines their faith

[samuel's mama]

I think one of the reasons this is happening is because the medical community is really starting to get scared of parents who are educated enough to make their own decisions on vaccines. Parents are getting smart and pulling back the curtain on vaccine science and are NOT liking what they see as far as safety studies and the efficacy of vaccines. Scare tactics are no longer working for doctors and I think they figure if enough people are denied care then parents will reconsider their choice not to vaccinate.

The other reason they are doing this is because practices are actually getting fined for not having a certain percentage of patients vaccinated. (This is according to the new pediatrician I found in MN- who is completely fine with my decision to not vaccinate) I am not sure who fines them...wish I would have asked! But my new pediatrician is one of 20 in his practice who not only supports parents choices but also believes that vaccines do sometimes cause adverse reactions and believes in reporting them (which he said is made very difficult and time consuming for him to do). Made me realize why many don't report reactions AND makes me wonder how many reactions are not even being reported! Sorry for the rant. I really just meant to post that I found a vaccine friendly doc in PA. Not sure how close you are to him but here is the info:

David S. Kennedy, M.D.
Personal Care Pediatrics, LLC
2771 Geryville Pike
Pennsburg, PA 18073
[phone]
www.PersonalCarePediatrics.org

And here is a link for people wondering about vaccine friendly docs in their state:
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccine...ly_Doctors.asp

I also agree with whoever else posted on here about checking with Chiropractors for recommendations.

Thankfully more and more doctors are looking into the vaccine studies that have been done, so they can think critically about this issue versus just believing what they have been taught. Unfortunately some pediatricians "don't want to look" (my pediatrician said this was a response by another pediatrician in his practice) because that would be too hard. This pediatrician also said, "I just want to be told what to do so I don't have to think about it." Can you even believe that!?! And we are supposed to just blindly trust them when they have never even taken a look at the science themselves. Gross.

Also...just wanted to add that my 3 year, unvaccinated boy is extremely healthy and has only had to go the doctor when he had rotavirus and influenza A , which he got through just fine by the way. Since those two illnesses he has not been sick at all and it has been over a year and half! Stay true to your choices... with more and more people like you we will hopefully create a demand for doctors who will respect our choices.

Hugs to you and good luck!