Can I refuse treatment for DD?

[elle1980]

First of all, I want to say that I'm not the kind who is against medical treatment... I just don't think this procedure for my DD is necessary.

At birth DD was picked up as having a slightly clicky hip. We were referred to see an orthopaedic surgeon, who said it looked almost perfect and wasn't too sure why we were referred in the first place. But we were now in the system and had to get an ultrasound every month to monitor the condition. So, each month we got an ultrasound on DD's hips, then saw the specialist and everytime it came back as perfect. The last time we went he gave us the all clear but booked us in for a future xray as that's the policy.

Now, I'm not against xrays and I've had heaps done before, but DD's only 6 months old and this xray is one of the only pelvic xrays done on a female where the ovaries aren't sheilded. And, basically I don't want it done as I don't see the benefit.

Am I within my right to decline this?

[Miss H]

You decide what should happen to your daughter. When I was a child, my bone in my foot grew out instead of in. My mother took me to a dr who said he needed to oprate and I would be on crutches for a while. My mother refused and another dr gave me built-up shoes which I wore for two years. My feet are perfect and I have never had problems since. Dr's don't always do what is in your or your daughters best interest. Stop, and if you feel uneasy about it later, then have it checked again when she is older or presents with any more problems.

[LimeSlice]

Short answer - yes absolutely.
You can refuse any treatment at any time for your children.

Once you start refusing life saving treatments for serious illness you can get into legal issues with DOCS etc, but you can totally refuse any medical interventions for your own children.

[Lolli]

Look, I really don't know much about this. But I'm pretty sure the reason any sign of clicky hips is so closely monitored is because it can become a problem without parents noticing, especially once bubs is mobile. If it's detected early, the treatment can be very simple, if it's not detected early the treatment is pretty horrid (five months in a cast as a two year old). I have two friends in their mid thirties who are looking at hip replacements in the next five years due to undiagnosed clicky hips as babies.

Is there someone- like the specialist you saw, or your gp, who can give you a really good medical opinion on this? It can't be an easy desicion to make.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

First of all, I want to say that I'm not the kind who is against medical treatment... I just don't think this procedure for my DD is necessary.

At birth DD was picked up as having a slightly clicky hip. We were referred to see an orthopaedic surgeon, who said it looked almost perfect and wasn't too sure why we were referred in the first place. But we were now in the system and had to get an ultrasound every month to monitor the condition. So, each month we got an ultrasound on DD's hips, then saw the specialist and everytime it came back as perfect. The last time we went he gave us the all clear but booked us in for a future xray as that's the policy.

Now, I'm not against xrays and I've had heaps done before, but DD's only 6 months old and this xray is one of the only pelvic xrays done on a female where the ovaries aren't sheilded. And, basically I don't want it done as I don't see the benefit.

Am I within my right to decline this?

My DD had EXACTLY the same thing. - Clicky hip picked up at birth then referral to ortho surgeon and ultrasounds every 2 months (all Clear) up until she was 6 months. she DID have the x-ray done at 6 months and her ovaries WERE shielded by two magnetic looking love hearts - one for each ovary. Not sure why they've told you your DD's wouldn't be shielded?. i asked many questions and i asked why the x-ray had to be be done at 6 months, and was told by ortho that this is when the cruical hip/socket development (or under development depending on the child) will be picked up straight away and can then be acted on quickly rather than leaving it until later.....

Anyhoo, having said all the above you are absolutely within your rights to refuse treatment

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

But I'm pretty sure the reason any sign of clicky hips is so closely monitored is because it can become a problem without parents noticing, especially once bubs is mobile. If it's detected early, the treatment can be very simple, if it's not detected early the treatment is pretty horrid (five months in a cast as a two year old).

:yeahthat: - Lolli posted as i was typing - but yes, the longer its left (and if there is a problem), the more likely it is for higher intervention in regards to casts, rhino braces etc...

[elle1980]

My DD had EXACTLY the same thing. - Clicky hip picked up at birth then referral to ortho surgeon and ultrasounds every 2 months (all Clear) up until she was 6 months. she DID have the x-ray done at 6 months and her ovaries WERE shielded by two magnetic looking love hearts - one for each ovary. Not sure why they've told you your DD's wouldn't be shielded?. i asked many questions and i asked why the x-ray had to be be done at 6 months, and was told by ortho that this is when the cruical hip/socket development (or under development depending on the child) will be picked up straight away and can then be acted on quickly rather than leaving it until later.....

Anyhoo, having said all the above you are absolutely within your rights to refuse treatment

That's interesting, thanks for that info. I only got advice from my GP who said rather than risk doing two xrays (in case the ovary shield blocks the part they're trying to xray on the first attempt) they probably wouldn't use the shield... maybe he's wrong.

I'm confident the hips are fine, the percentages are way above what's even considered borderline.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Once you start refusing life saving treatments for serious illness you can get into legal issues with DOCS etc, but you can totally refuse any medical interventions for your own children.

Just to go a bit further on this, I have friends who have attempted to refuse minor procedures performed on their children because they felt they were unnecessary, and have been threatened with DOCS. One hospital didn't bother with that, they just did the procedure when Mum went home for the night, despite not having her consent.

It's possible this is because our religious beliefs regarding blood, so we are seen as irresponsible towards our childrens medical treatments, but I wanted to warn you that if you refuse the wrong doctor, it could end up badly ITMS.

Having said that, I hope everything turns out alright for you

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

That's interesting, thanks for that info. I only got advice from my GP who said rather than risk doing two xrays (in case the ovary shield blocks the part they're trying to xray on the first attempt) they probably wouldn't use the shield... maybe he's wrong.

I'm confident the hips are fine, the percentages are way above what's even considered borderline.

what has the ortho said? The ortho we saw said the x-ray would show definitively (ie ultrasounds can be wrong) whether her hip/socket joint had aligned - what part are they actually looking to xray? - the only reason i ask is that the shield is TINY - literally in the shape of a small love heart, which also shows up clearly on the x-ray and was no-where near her hip? - the ortho we saw wanted to see that the socket was covering the hip (ball) joint nicely and it was - however, on the ultrasound, this could not be seen clearly!

Regarding the percentages, my DD's were also above borderline too, but the clicking was enough for them to be concerned