# Questions for Doctors and Dentists: Too Mundane for GQ **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966 "2001-03-29T14:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/1 "2001-03-29T14:04:19Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Abe\_Babe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@Abe\_Babe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abe_Babe)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/2 "2001-03-29T14:47:10Z")
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?? ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/3 "2001-03-29T14:50:42Z")
::shudder:: Caution: Disturbing mental image ahead! OB/GYN: “Please put this on and wait for me in examining room 1, mom.” ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/4 "2001-03-29T15:04:28Z")
**rastahomie** , IANAM(oderator) but I think think this is a good question and deem it worthy of GQ. I eagerly await the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/5 "2001-03-29T15:53:29Z")
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!! ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2001, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/6 "2001-03-29T18:16:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2001, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-for-doctors-and-dentists-too-mundane-for-gq/59966/7 "2001-03-30T04:58:41Z")
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