Posted on 03/03/2014 1:55:36 PM PST by AlmaKing
My wife is about 2 weeks away from giving birth. The hospital contacted her today and told her that they would not release the baby until we have given them a pediatrician's name.
I don't know if this is policy or law in Arizona. I have started making calls, but am not getting anywhere yet.
Anyone heard of this?
I have other children and was never told anything like this.
It ticks me off because I see it as a threat and a loss of control of my child.
I can try another hospital, but I don't know yet if it will be the same policy or law. And of course my wife doesn't want to switch hospital and doctor.
How did your other kids get vaccinated? I’m under the impression no doc other than a pediatrician will administer the shots (could be wrong though).
I find it kind of odd that don't want your newborn kid to have a doctor.
What the hospital may or may not require is secondary.. there are other hospitals.
You wish to deny your new child medical services why exactly?
Had a meeting after my rant.
Just moved here, no pedi yet. Not opposed to it, just opposed to the part where they tell my wife they won’t release our baby if I don’t give them a name.
The previous pediatrician screwed that part up. It cost us $7000 for a doc to repair the incorrectly performed circumcision. That’s something that just can’t be screwed up.
For that matter I seem to recall our pediatrician was present for the circumcision. You didn’t indicate the child’s gender and perhaps you won’t be having it done, but I think the larger point is that your child will benefit, especially in the event of an unforeseen situation.
I have 4 nurses in the family already. 2nd, the previous pediatrician screwed up one of the circumcisions to the tune of $7,000.
You’re stuck on the wrong point. It’s not the doctor part. It’s the requirement by the hospital that I have one and they’re telling me I can’t take my child home without having one.
A nurse has a specific skill set; a physician has another skill set. Some nurses do have training that allows them to do limited diagnosis, but even they do not have the skill set of physicians.
For routine stuff for a healthy baby, a nurse is probably okay. But if anything goes wrong, you’ll want that advanced skill set.
What!? Why was a boy taken away and given up for adoption?
Now I’m (and I’m guessing all on the thread) are getting a better understanding of your situation. You have older children, you just relocated and you are expecting a new baby to the mix. A lot on your (and your families’) plate right now.
It’s great that you have 4 nurses (with their mothering experiences) in the family. I have a dear friend who was a head NICU nurse, and she is now retired. She has one adult daughter and was thrilled to be in the birthing suite when her granddaughter was born. Everything was routine til the water fully ruptured and meconium was noted. An emergency Csection was done (and my friend was allowed in the OR) she relayed how utterly torn she was seeing the NICU staff working on her grandbaby, yet knowing she was too emotionally attached to trust her judgment. The little girl is now 2 and has asthma issues (she inhaled some meconium). My friend watches the little girl (while parents work) and she has to administer her meds. She is back in full “nurse mode” (going to the ped visits; checking the meds/doses) yet as skilled/experienced she is, she defers to pediatrican’s judgment (detached professional). Asking close relatives to be sole medical providers is putting THEM in a very precarious position (if there are any complications).
I really hope things look clearer and more settled in a day or two for you...your stress isn’t good for any of you.
G-d bless!
I’m confident that the answer is this:
- The hospital wants you - for the good of your child - to have a pediatrician to whom they can send any test results that come in after the baby is gone.
- The hospital cannot keep your otherwise healthy baby from leaving the hospital whenever you choose to take her/him. However, they have a legitimate interest in having the baby seen by a pediatrician in the hospital before you leave. But they cannot keep you from leaving; they can’t “kidnap” your baby just because there is no pediatrician on-tap post-discharge.
It is no more complicated than this. There is either a misunderstanding here, or someone is blowing smoke. Regardless, nobody can or will stop determined parents from leaving with their baby.
Unfortunately, that's very common. One of our sons had to have a revision, too. When he was an infant, we pointed out the problem to every pediatrician, and they all shrugged it off. Finally, six years later, I diagnosed the problem myself using the internet and took him to a urologist for surgery.
As for choosing a pediatrician: Are you worried that a pediatrician might insist that you do something you object to? If so, I can understand that. Through the years, I've had disagreements with many pediatricians. Doctors do make mistakes. Sometimes they're flat-out wrong. But, if you just choose one to see your baby in the hospital, you can switch later to another practitioner.
The hospital wasn’t going to release us with our newborn because we didn’t have a car seat carrier to strap her into for the wheelchair ride out of the hospital. I told them I would hold her in my arms in the wheelchair and when we got to the car we had a rear facing car seat already strapped in the car. They said no that she had to be in a carrier car seat. I told them I was leaving with her even if they didn’t discharge me. They acted liked I was being unreasonable but they discharged us. This was 7 years ago. I am sure it has gotten worse. If I had to do it over again I would have my babies at home.
Wow. It’s been 12 years since I had a baby, and they were requiring car seats at that time. But not a baby carrier. I held each of my babies as they wheeled me to the car. Actually, I could’ve walked out on my own two feet, but they always insisted I ride in a wheelchair.
They must be worried about lawsuits. They’re probably worried that the baby could be dropped from the new mother’s arms while they’re wheeling her out the door, and then they’ll be held responsible.
But, many parents won’t even question the requirements made of them. For example, once, as I was making my way from my hospital room to the nursery, I met another new mother out in the hall. When I said I was on my way to get my baby from the nursery, she said, “Are you allowed to do that?” I said, “I’d like to see them try to stop me.” (lol) Imagine it on the news: Security tackles new mother to the floor as she attempts to get her baby from the nursery.
After my youngest (now 22) was born, I was walking in my room while holding him in my arms. Just as I stepped into the hallway, my nurse said I had to keep the baby in my room. Why? “Because you might drop him.”
I asked myself what she would do if I stepped back into the room, opened my arms and say “News flash, I can drop him in the room too!”
LOL. Too funny. :-)
We had to do this nearly 2 decades ago.
Our Pediatrician did not have “rights” at the particular hospital where our OB/GYN delivered. We had to agree to a pediatrician at the hospital to check the baby prior to release.
It is a liability of the hospital to be able to say all was well and good when the baby left us.
You can blame lawyers, but it really is not a bad idea. If you don’t want a doctor to see your child, why are you delivering at a hospital?
This is normal.
First, choosing a pediatrician should as much a part of the prenatal process as choosing a obstetrician and a delivery hosptial.
Second, the baby will be seen by a pediatrician shortly after birth. This could be the selected pediatrician (if he or she has hospital privileges there. Otherwise, a hospitalist pediatrician on staff or contract to the hospital.
Third, the baby’s medical records need to be sent to the family’s pediatrician, in case a medical issue comes up shortly after discharge from the hospital.
Fourth, there can be a number of medical issues with babies the first few weeks after birth. You don’t take the baby back to the OB ward, and the hospital does not want every parent taking their baby to the emergency room for non-emergency care.
Fifth, the first Well Baby visit with the pediatrician is one month after birth. You need to already have a pediatrician lined up for the medical records and to get on the schedule as soon as possible.
For in-hospital births, most circumcisions are done by obstetricians.
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