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It has always been tough for us 'poor' paediatricians. What, no
private practice, no waiting list initiatives, no death certificate money,
no medico-legal work and so on resulting in poor remuneration!.
Our patients can't talk for themselves, we interpret what others tell
us about them, carers who abuse them, parents who believe in media gossip
rather than the evidence, evidence which is muddled, expert opinion which
is confusing and the list goes on and on. Of course I do feel 'damned if
you do and damned if you don't' But these are all part of my day to day
life.
Most parents do love their children, vast majority are grateful for
what I offer and most of what I do is very rewarding. For me diagnosing
child abuse is also like any other clinical problem, you look at the
evidence and then come to a diagnosis. Some I can say as definitive abuse
others definitely not abuse and a few I can't be sure and I do ask for
others help and that is what medicine is about. It is the dogma which is
wrong.
I still love my job
Dear Richard,
It has always been tough for us 'poor' paediatricians. What, no
private practice, no waiting list initiatives, no death certificate money,
no medico-legal work and so on resulting in poor remuneration!.
Our patients can't talk for themselves, we interpret what others tell
us about them, carers who abuse them, parents who believe in media gossip
rather than the evidence, evidence which is muddled, expert opinion which
is confusing and the list goes on and on. Of course I do feel 'damned if
you do and damned if you don't' But these are all part of my day to day
life.
Most parents do love their children, vast majority are grateful for
what I offer and most of what I do is very rewarding. For me diagnosing
child abuse is also like any other clinical problem, you look at the
evidence and then come to a diagnosis. Some I can say as definitive abuse
others definitely not abuse and a few I can't be sure and I do ask for
others help and that is what medicine is about. It is the dogma which is
wrong.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests