Questions for Doctors and Dentists: Too Mundane for GQ

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’m curious about whether or not you examine/treat your own children. Does your profession consider this practice unethical or otherwise frown upon it? Are you legally allowed to write prescriptions for your immediate family?

TIA

2

I know a number of doctors/dentists with kids, and if they want to, they can treat their own family, and most do.

The exceptions were where the doctor/dentist felt ‘personally’ uncomfortable doing it, or where the matter is highly personal. One friend of mine was treated for depression, and went to a shrink other than his mother/shrink. She knew about it, and even recommended treatment, but they both agreed that it would be too weird to have her treat him.

I would think surgical procedures might be an area where doctors might tend not to treat their own children.

I am a doctor of laws. Does that count??

3

::shudder::

Caution: Disturbing mental image ahead!

OB/GYN:
“Please put this on and wait for me in examining room 1, mom.”

4

rastahomie, IANAM(oderator) but I think think this is a good question and deem it worthy of GQ. I eagerly await the answer.

5

My Dad was a dentist, and he treated us kids and my Mom, too. He wasn’t an orthodontist, though, and we went to another doctor for that. I think it’s OK for doctors to treat their family, as long as it isn’t extremely emotional like surgery. Free house calls! The OB/Gyn thing, though… I don’t think so!!

6

I know a surgeon who comes from a large family and, although she willingly gives advice, minor prescriptions, flu shots and the like, she doesn’t perform surgery on friends or family members.

7

I work for a dentist.

It is not unethical to treat your own family in the dental profession. My boss treats his wife and children, and it all works out quite well.

I have no knowledge about the medical profession, but I would assume that it is the same…the only thing I can think of that might be different is that sometimes in the medical profession, situations occur that might require objectivity that a family member might not be able to come up with.

I still don’t think it would be unethical, but it might make things more difficult all around.

Scotti