Clinic...OR Kitchen? You Chose

Many of us, Mothers, living in the Middle East or maybe around the world, have been wondering everyday if our doctors prescriptions and recommendations are honest and based on scientific evidence or biased by information provided by pharmaceutical companies to boost their sales..... Nowadays, selecting a sincere physician has become a real challenge and concern to many people, what if the concerned patient is a fragile human being, or a sick baby? As a mother I raise these questions everyday:

 - What is the quality of the health service that I am receiving?

 - Where should I go if I needed a medical advice?

 - How can I protect my family from any medical unforgivable mistake?  

The answers are still lost in my head, and not yet found, thank God that when me or my son needed a medical advice it was for simple illness, but I never envied those who badly in need of true medical guidance and support and can't find it.

What about Hippocrates Oath (Click here to read it)? Isn't it about serving people? isn't about helping those in need? isn't about prescribing the right medicine? Do we encounter these practices around us? I keep wondering

I have managed to follow some kind of pattern every time I visit a new Doctor, weather a Family Doctor, a Surgeon or a Pediatrician.
Regarding Pediatricians which I consider one of the most dedicated specialties, and most of them really do it for the love of it, I have worked on some hints that might be able to help you find a good pediatrician especially if you are a new mom. 

First let me give you some tips on choosing the right Pediatrician:

1- If this is your first baby, ask your Gynecologist to refer you to a Pediatrician he/she knows, if you are comfortable with your Gynecologist, most probably his/her recommended Pediatrician will have the same attitude. 

2- Try to meet the Pediatrician before you deliver since after delivery you will not have the time to search.

3- Try to find out if S/he has a sub specialty and what is it, especially if you have inherited medical conditions or special case. 

4- Don't be overtaken by the design of his/her clinic, or how much he charges, this is not a condition for good practice. 

5- Don't be overtaken if her/his clinic is full of patients, this is not necessarily a proof of good practice, it is only a proof that he/she might not be able to take your call when you most need him/her. 

6- A good pediatrician is someone who listen to you, who understands your concern, and I prefer the ones who post their mobile, home and clinic numbers on a prescription to be reached anytime.

7- A good Pediatrician is someone who is always up to date with Medical information. 

8- A good Pediatrician is someone who doesn't make fun of you when you ask silly questions, since if you knew the answer why would you pay him/her to tell you.

9- A good Pediatrician is someone who puts himself in your shoes, and imagine this happening to his kids.

10- A good Pediatrician is always providing scientific based evidence about any procedure, treatment or prescription he makes.

I hope the above was helpful enough, in the next post I will share with you some questions you should ask yourself or the Pediatrician before engaging your kids in any treatment or operation.

Best regards from Beirut,

Rima