In a message dated 25.11.98 19:02:28 BST, Graham writes:
> As for the medical involvement, it does make one shudder. Without
> hearing the other side of the story, it would certainly seem as though
> there is a prima facie case for reporting the matter ( 'At the case
> conference the paediatricians advised conference that Dr Patterson's
> opinion should not be accepted') to the College or even the GMC, as
> this would appear to be an 'I'm right, you're wrong' stance that was
> detrimental to the patient and the family.
>
I would agree that it is the paeds who should be chased and comlained about if
anyone. Social services are liable to listen more to "medical opinion" from
the paeds, being more the "experts" on causes of fractures in theory.
You can't expect the social workers to make a diagnosis of osteogenesis
imperfecta but you can expect the paeds to, and definitely definitely once
someone points it out to them.
The GMC wrote a few months ago asking us to write to them if colleagues were
doing outrageous things (or even just bad things for locums).
I wouldn't write straight off, but I would tackle the paediatrician directly
and if you get abuse, remind him of what the GMC says. All with the aim of
obtaining an apology for the family.
If you feel up to it
But you would if YOU were the parent.
At the very least, encourage the parents to make an official complaint to the
hospital managers in writing about their failure to countenance the diagnosis
even when someone else had seen the child.
What would you do if it was your child?
Grace
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