Hey, has anyone heard about this? I caught a comment on the radio today. It seems that more pediatritians are "firing" their patients...simply telling the parents that they are no longer willing to treat them...because Mom and Dad refuse to get immunizations. I know many on here don't believe in immunizing their kids (I do, but I also feel it should be a CHOICE, not a requirement), so I was wondering if anyone has run into this. Supposedly, the doctors say it puts their patients "at risk" to have a bunch of un-immunized kids sitting in their waiting room (which I honestly feel is a really crappy excuse).
I have not heard of this. I am pro-immunization, but like you, I believe that we should each have the CHOICE. No one should be forced to endure a medical treatment that they are not comfortable with. That being said, yes, it does put other children at risk to be running around with kids that are not immunized. Just as it is the parents right to not immunize, I have no problem with doctors making the choice to not accept patients who are not immunized.
I am anti-immunizations and although it may sound wrong to refuse health care, I feel doctors have every right to choose their patients as I have every right to choose my doctors. The problem is when one lives in a small town, as I did as a child, and there was usually only one family doctor in the area. I cannot image my old doctor refusing to see us for any reason other than non-payment.
I have not heard about this with the immunization issue but I did see a story where a doctor refused to see any patients who were over 200lbs. I have no problem if after the first meeting a doctor says I do not think I can accept you as a patient but I think once you have accepted them as your patient then you should advise them to find a physician who believes what they do but to tell them you can no longer treat them I feel a little on the fence about it. I can see both sides to this issue and both make me a little uncomfortable.
Renae, not trying to be difficult, but I would think children who were not immunized would only be a threat to others who are not immunized. So immunized children running with those that weren't are NOT at risk, correct? Plus, they are all running around togther other places...school, park, church, etc. So does being together at the doctor's office REALLy make that much difference? Also, I know my pediatrician, when my oldest got chicken pox, they had me come up the back stairs AWAY from all the other children. They mostly wanted to confirm this was what it was, but since I knew she had been exposed, we were pretty sure. When her sister got it, they didn't even have her come in.
I am not anti.. either, but I feel like they are pushing more and more unnecessary immunizations on our girls especially that I have decided that they don't really need anymore... and I don't want some Dr. trying to force it on me. Now, I guess Dr. can say who they want to see or not.. but I do know this.. that a Dr. can get in trouble with the state if they have no immunization records for the children patients...( I know that since I had a nurse over records call and ask me why they had no records of my girls immunizations...)
As a contractor (in the past, not currently), I had a choice who to work with, and I really appreciated that a lot. As a consumer, I have a choice who to contract for services. I think it's perfectly fine for either party to end the relationship for any reason. *shrugs* I don't think immunizations or weight really matter at all.
We were fired from a ped in MO because we stopped vaccinating. And I've been unable to find a doctor willing to see my boys since we've moved. 9 months into living in AR and my boys have not been able to see a doctor because they aren't immunized. See the problem there? (AND... I even have a CDC recommendation to NOT immunize them because of past issues!) I have never been given the "putting patients at risk" excuse, though. I'm told that if I won't listen to the doctor on something as simple as vaccines *snort*simple*snort* that I will be more likely to question everything the doctor suggests. I've been given this reason a dozen times. The doctor believes they should have absolute control and I have no right to question them. And that's the truth of it.
I use selective/delayed vax. I have never been fired from a pedi, but I have been lectured. We have been unable to find a pedi since moving here in Jan. None seem to accept new patients. A NP at an urgent care facility told me she sees several kids as regular patients. At a urologist appt yesterday, he insisted that we needed a pediatrician and convinced his personal pedi to accept my dd (though she was not accepting new patients). I'm curious as to how she will react to dd's lack of vaccines. (On a side note, he said to have all your docs lined up before Jan. because health care reform will force many docs out of business, and none will accept new patients. He also mentioned that many will go to a shortened work week and accept cash only.)
We currently have no insurance.. the new job hubby has (other than pastoring) offers it but it is so expensive for the family.. My husband wants me to try the states Ar Kids.. program to see if we would qualify for their reduced healthcare for the girls.. I am scared to try because I don't want calls and people trying to force me to vax.. the girls. The would be considered a few yrs behind in there vaxs...
I have no experience with vax vs pedi because I don't have children (if and when I ever do, I will be selective, delayed, or no vax, all depending). However, on a side note, I saw a friend mention on facebook the other day about her weight being taken (the normal) and then being checkmarked on a form to be conveyed back to insurance and then lectured about her BMI (the not so normal). It's a new push with the insurance companies and the new healthcare reform. I've also seen and heard mention of doctors making a lot of changes in who they see and how they handle patients based on the reform as well. I know many will go ahead and retire or simply stop accepting new patients (if they haven't already). I know one doctor in town has a sign on his door saying he won't accept new patients all due to the reform. Anyway, sort of off topic, but I do wonder if it will become increasingly more difficult to defend yourself at the doctor as a selective or non vaxing family. I certainly thought of all that I've mentioned above, when I initially read the OP, as well as reading some of the other responses here. Frankly, it is very scary.
Although that sounds expensive, it could be a good thing. Less paperwork means less cost. I go to two chiropractors, one close and one farther. The farther one charges something like $150 a visit, gets whatever my insurance pays with a $10 co-pay (for the previous two years it was a $40 co-pay), but they have to deal with delayed payment, haggles, and paperwork. The one close by does not accept insurance has a $30 office charge including some therapies like stim and they have no paperwork, no hassles, and delayed payments unless they make arrangements on an individual basis. I used to work for a no-insurance chiropractor and they really can be as profitable on a cash basis plus they can choose to treat those who cannot pay on an individual basis.
I forget the details but I've heard (and don't have time to fact check right now) That doctors receive 'funds' for all fully vax'd patients. Supposedly why some push so hard for vaxing and refuse to take patients that don't vax or selectively vax. We quit vaxing 3 year ago...Haven't had a pediatrician since, because we haven't needed one...and I'm scared to look for one, so many are so pushy with the needles...
Ok the concern is....your 3 month old child is fully vaxed for his age. My 12 year old child is not vaxed at all. My child catches measles and I bring him to the doctor's office. Your fully vaxed child isn't old enough for the measles vaccine and is therefore not protected against measles... (There was actually a lawsuit somewhere at sometime I remember hearing about that was based on this scenario...the infant died from a disease caught from a neighbor or something that was not vaccinated so they sued the mom who choose not to vaccinate her kid for something...)
Except that all available medical funds for most families will be going to pay for the required insurance (that's useless) or the fines for not buying it. :roll:
Shelby, that's how we are. Dh is offered health insurance, but it is so expensive, we cannot afford it- and going up again next year. My kids are on state insurance, and to date, I have never been forced to vaccinate. It may be coming though.
I don't yet know how the AR people do things, but in MO we got letters listing out all the suggested vaccines the boys were due for. That was it. They didn't even know we didn't have them up-to-date. It was more "_____ is now 5, so it's time for his ____, ____, and ____ boosters. Please contact your doctor for an appointment."
That's how TX was, too. In MS, we get phone calls every month reminding us of the importance of well visits. I've been to three separate urgent care centers since moving here (because we can't find a pedi) and have yet to be asked if vax were up-to-date. In TX, I was asked at every single visit-doctor's office, specialist, urgent care (the most pushy), and a couple of ER visits.
WOW! First of all, thanks, Josie, for the explaination. We've always had good insurance through DH's work, but we went to talk with retirement today. So come spring (or summer) we will no longer have his insurance; it will cost us $1000/month for insurance (health, dental, vision) for our family (the bulk cost for me) through the retirement system. He's looking at options. Fortunately, our pediatrician is big enough they accept most insurances, so I'm not particularly worried about having to change (thankfully!). The girls' doctor has talked to me about...is it Hep B? I originally said no, but both girls went on missions trips out of the country, and it was "required" for that, so they both have it. I did turn down Gardasil for the cervical cancer. She pushed it, I said no, and she really hasn't given me grief about it since. She WILL ask each time, "And you said you didn't want the Gardasil...is that still correct?" This past year, Rachael went by herself (she's 18 now!), and Carl expressed concern that the doctor would try to talk Rachael into it, but Rachael has heard me talk about it enough that it wasn't an issue. As far as Phillip goes, he sort of had Chicken Pox as a baby, but only three or four pox appeared. He had been exposed unknowingly by Rachael's friend (who of course had to hold the baby when she came over). So I was keeping my eye open for them. The doctor is hesitant to say he's "had them", and is encouraging me to get it (especially since he's now 12!). He says that if I don't, I'm going to have to sign a waiver.
