doctor authority question

[abreakfromlife]

This question isn't specifically about vax, but I thought this would be the best place to find an answer.

My daughter was born with a slight issue that required her to go to a specialist for the first year of her life. It really wasn't a big issue and I think the specialist was overkill, but since she was a baby, I went with it, just to make sure. After that year we had car, kid, and money issues and so we stopped going to them, and again, it was not a serious issue. This was about a year and a half ago.

A couple of months ago I start getting phone calls from the specialist, asking who my daughter's dr. is and who is monitoring her health. I never answered their calls b/c at that point, she wasn't seeing a dr. So she just turned 3 and I took her in to our dr and got her checked out, and everything is fine, of course. I got a letter in the mail last week from the specialist, threatening to report me to CPS if I don't tell them who is 'managing her condition'.

And then today, I get a letter from the Michigan Immunization Registry, telling me that my daughter hasn't had her flu shot and I need to get it. I was royally pissed. I didn't realize there was a registry. How did I miss that? Anyway, I printed off the opt-out form and will get that sent in.

But my thinking is, is that it is not the specialist's child, and it is none of their business who our doctor is or when we last visited her. Just because you go to a specialist once, you're required to report to them for the rest of your life?

I'm just wondering if they have the authority to require us to check in with them and report to them, or if I can politely tell them 'none-ya', LOL. Is the next letter they're going to send telling me I need to get all her other shots in? I guess I don't see it as any of their business......but really don't want to get into a fight if I don't have to. I was wondering if anyone had any insight to this one.....I couldn't find much by googling, LOL.

[Jessie'sMom]

WOW!

I don't know what to say--but good luck!!! Hope this turns out well for you and your family!

I'm in MI as well and just saw a specialist for a minor issue for our 3yr old daughter. I did not agree with her assessment and her assessment is not in-line with what other dr's have said.

The specialist is calling and emailing me about the type of follow-up care. I've ignored her to this point but wondering if it's the same specialist??

I was also wondering what authority anyone else has? When dd goes to school she will be non-vaxed as well--which her ped and our family dr are very okay with. Will be using the Philosophical exemption since we are in MI.


If I find anything on the authority of the dr/specialist I will let you know.


Danielle

[serenbat]

Send the "specialist" a nicely worded letter stating that you are fully aware of your right (privacy!) and that you will not be releasing your child info to them. If you have an attorney send them a copy and make a notation on the letter to the specialist and make sure you send it certified.

[Arduinna]

Well legal requirement to inform them or not Drs can report to CPS anytime they suspect medical neglect and I wouldn't take his threats likely, unless you have the cash for a lawyer and are fine with having a CPS investigation.

[abreakfromlife]

Well legal requirement to inform them or not Drs can report to CPS anytime they suspect medical neglect and I wouldn't take his threats lightly, unless you have the cash for a lawyer and are fine with having a CPS investigation.

and that's where my dilemma is. I don't want to mess with CPS

[ammiga]

I would respond to the specialist in a calm and assertive manner. Tell her that you appreciate the help she offered to your family years ago, but at this point her issue is resolved to the satisfaction of her doctor and that she is well taken care of. You can also let her know that you are not sure how the name of the doctor will help, since she is not authorized to have access to your daughter's medical records, and you are not sure how any of this is grounds for contacting CPS. There are many neglected children out there with serious issues, and your dd is not one of them, even according to her doctor.

I would not ignore her, or this could spiral out of control into something ridiculous. But I also would not succumb to all of her interrogations, especially given that the doctor's name wouldn't give her much anyway. Just be calm and sound in control. If she pushes, tell her you will look into her request, and comply with anything that you are legally bound to comply with.

[paquerette]

I suppose you could give her the name of another doctor in that specialty who is not connected with her practice, seeing as she has no way to find out whether your daughter is actually seeing that doctor or not.

[Gladiolus]

Originally Posted by ammiga

I would respond to the specialist in a calm and assertive manner. Tell her that you appreciate the help she offered to your family years ago, but at this point her issue is resolved to the satisfaction of her doctor and that she is well taken care of. You can also let her know that you are not sure how the name of the doctor will help, since she is not authorized to have access to your daughter's medical records, and you are not sure how any of this is grounds for contacting CPS. There are many neglected children out there with serious issues, and your dd is not one of them, even according to her doctor.

Yes to this.
I would put it in writing and also you could request your daughter's records be forwarded to your family doctor (or whoever just saw your daughter and said everything checked out fine ) and that you will not be needing her specialist services any longer.
Good luck!

[amnesiac]

Since this is about a non-vaccine related health issue, I'm moving it over to H&H.

[cheryllynn]

I am in Minnesota. I remember seeing something on the Birth Certificate form to opt out of the vaccine registry. I failed to do that and am not looking forward to any contact from government regarding vaccination.

I am really surprised that the specialist contacted you over a year or two later. What is their deal?? I would feel compelled to answer to keep CPS off my back.

[mbbinsc]

I'd call the Doc who recently saw your DD take care of this. They can better send a note saying that they recently saw her and all is well. (Especially if they were the ones who referred you to the specialist in the first place).

[jeliphish]

If you don't mind me asking, what was her condition?

[hedgehogs4]

I would answer the correspondence, inform the Dr. that your child IS under the care of a physician and provide the name and number of your Dr. As long as your child is up to date with checkups this should satisfy the concern that your child may be lost to follow up and avoid any CPS referral. Keep it short and sweet.

[abreakfromlife]

thanks for all the help - we agree that a short letter is the best way to do it, and it really shouldn't be an issue. Her condition was borderline hypothyroidism, so she was on synthroid for the first couple of years, but she's outgrown it and her levels are fine now.