I understand it’s tough to ask the question “Why?” to your child’s doctor when the she makes a treatment or testing decision. But if you are going to be an active and informed partner in your child’s health care you need to know when to pose that question.
I am not suggesting you question every decision the doctor makes, but sometimes it’s appropriate.
Here are a few hints as to when you may want to question the doctor.
What will happen if I don’t give my child the medicine? This is usually a good question to ask if the medicine is just to treat a symptom and not the underlying cause of the problem – for example, a decongestant for a stuffy nose or cold, or an antibiotic for what may be a viral infection.
It’s important to remember that every drug has the potential for side effects. Even a drug a child has taken many times may still cause a problem.
Another thought is that perhaps there’s a reason for the symptom. For example, the body’s immune system works better at a higher than normal temperature. There may be a reason for a fever that accompanies many illnesses. Treating it with a drug may only prolong