I Didn't Give My Child a 2Nd Round of Antibiotics So the Doctor Called CPS.

I can only imagine there must be more to this illness or infection than maybe you understood? For a Doctor to call and deal with CPS is a pretty big deal.

The process for a doctor is a lot more involved and takes a lot more time than just a phone call. I guess you are going to be called in and hear the whole accusation.

You've gotten a lot of good answers so I'll keep my advicee short.

Cooperate with CPS-- they're not as bad as most people think and the more cooperative you are the faster they can move on to protecting the next kid.

Find a good family practice doctor you can all use and trust!

I'm going to play devil's advocate here and say

1- there's more to the story, you're just pointing fingers (yes, I dare say),

2- can you say FOR SURE it was the doctor who called? Because CPS is not legally allowed to tell you, and unless the doc told you himself that it was them... which I don't see happening... you're guessing.

3- Doctors ONLY call CPS if you're doing something horribly wrong... not saying that because you did or did not do something, I'm saying it because you obviously need to take another look in the mirror, sister...

4- YOU ARE NOT A DOCTOR. Get a second opinion before flat out refusing what the doctor is suggesting. You did not go to med school, you do NOT know what's medically best in this situation. Per your post, you're not even 100% sure what the heck is wrong with your kid.

"90% of ear infections are viral"... NO, that's ignorant, incorrect information. Roughly 40% are viral, 60% are bacterial, per Tabers. (google it if you don't know what Taber's is, anyone with any kind of medical background knows).

I hope your kiddo feels better soon, but I hope this is a huge eye opener for you. There's a difference between mommy gut, and honest to god GOOD medical advice. I find it extremely hard to believe the doc called CPS over something as simple as what you're saying.

I think there is WAY more to this story. Its likely that the doctor has possibly had other issues with you in the past maybe refusing to do what they suggest because admittedly you like to do things as "holisticly as possible". And you said you believe that antibiotics don't work so the doctor probably felt you were putting your child at further medical risk and reported it. They are obliged to do so. Good luck.

Anyone who suspects a child may be in danger can call CPS, ESPECIALLY a doctor, teacher or other care provider.
If your only "crime" is not giving the second round of antibiotics then you have nothing to worry about.
Though I think there must be more going on than that.

Doctors cannot force you to accept treatment for yourself or your children, but what they CAN do is to report the refusal of treatment to CPS.

This is usually only done in cases where refusing treatment will result in death or permanent injury.

This is done both to protect children AND to protect the doctor.

Medical Malpractice.

I hear 'ear infection' and I think of the common ear infection. Common worst case scenario = ruptured ear drum and minimal loss of hearing. No big deal in the medical world, and no doctor I know would report someone for it. It's regrettable, but not something that requires seeking outside intervention.

But there are many other types of infection of the ear, including inner ear / cochlea, abscesses, bone infection, etc. that if left untreated will most likely cause permanent hearing loss or profound deafness of one or both ears... and some infections have a high probability of going blood born, causing sepsis or brain infection... both of which do the pesky risk of death thing.

If this is a case where the doctor believes that not treating the infection could result in the deafness or death of your child... he is morally and legally obligated to report it to children's services. AS ARE any adults in medicine, law enforcement, schools, etc (aka mandated reporters), if they believe that not seeking medical attention is putting your child's health/life at risk.

These cases rarely make the news, because in the *majority* of cases, the parents simply don't realize how serious the condition is, and once they understand how serious a condition is, do a 180 and are active and willing participants in their child's care.

A minority of parents fight the courts on medical treatments, and their children end up in 'medical foster homes' (these are usually kids who need round the clock care, aka 2 nursing shifts and 1 parent shift), or as wards of the state and the parents are compelled to allow treatment.

An even smaller minority, the doctor is proven to be wrong.

And the smallest minority at all, the parents' wishes are honored by the courts and the child is allowed to suffer permanant injury or to die. ((These are the cases that make the news.))

I don't have the stats, but as a GENERAL IDEA (from growing up in a medical family and working in/ going to school in medical field, aka again, I can't highlight enough I haven't gone and looked up stats, but as a general feel for the numbers):

about 95% parents didn't realize how serious the problem was
about 3% the child goes into a medical foster home
about 1% the doctor was wrong about the treatment being necessary to life
about 0.###-###-####% the courts rule that the parents have the right to let their child die, even though a treatment is all but guaranteed (like an appendix that is going to rupture or already has... these are almost always religious cases).

Now... OF COURSE the doctor can be wrong. They usually aren't IF they're going to the extreme of reporting a parent for refusing necessary medical care. These cases are all reviewed by medical boards, and not having really stellar evidence backing up their decision is as damaging as a wrongful death suit.

PERSONALLY... IF I BELIEVED A DOCTOR TO BE WRONG...

I would seek a 2nd opinion, preferably from a specialist. That way, when CPS comes, or I'm in court I can simply and easily state that I believed them to be wrong, so I sought a 2nd opinion and these were the results.

This is a major reason why we don't use pediatricians. They are trained to call CPS more than any other doctor. They are not working for you. I would switch doctors in a heartbeat. Find a family practice or DO to see instead, if you must use an allopathic doctor. We see our chiro as the first line of defence in health issues. A DO when needed, which is a doctor that is sort of a bridge between the chiro and allopathic doctors. They have training on both sides. I am not at all surprised that he called CPS on you. They think they are gods, and that you must obey them, although the truth is that you are still responsible for the medical decisions you make for your children even when pressured to do what someone else tells you to do. You are right that antibiotics generally don't work for ear infections. Most parents just want the drugs because they think it will help their child. Ignorance abounds. Do you have a lawyer? I would get one.

UPDATE:
Okay, after reading a few responses, I have to add some more. First, I don't think there has to be more to the story. Doctors call because people refuse vaccines. You don't really have informed *consent* when it comes to your children. Many doctors think that you must obey them. Many parents have been taken to court over this vey thing: a parent choses a different path of healing than what their doctor recommended. Also, the whole "anonymous" reporting gets me so riled up. People ought to be able to face their accusers, and people ought to be bold enough to admit reporting other people. It is cowardly to report anonymously. If you have something to hide about it, then shame on you. It is so very wrong that people can report anonymously. It is way too easy to report falsely because you have a beef with someone. Perhaps people would think twice about reporting people for differences of opinion about a matter if they had to face the person they are accusing. Just because a person doesn't agree with a parental decision doesn't make it right to report them and try to get the children removed from a home (vaccination, homeschooling, antibiotic issues, cancer treatment options, etc.). If a person is actually abusing their child, then they shouldn't have a problem admitting they turned them in. And, maybe they will actually walk alongside someone who needs help rather than cowardly turn them in anonymously....
...off my soapbox now...

I don't think that this is something to call CPS for, however, fluid in the ear is not something to mess with. My son, at age 5, is still struggling with speech issues due to fluid that had been in his ear for a long time. He never cried in pain so we never knew, but the doctor told me that the fluid was the result of chronic infections. When my daughter had a double ear infection, the doctor at urgent care sent us home to watch and wait. She was miserable. Guess what got rid of it? Antibiotics. Most ear infections are bacterial of fungal, not viral, which is why you need antibiotics, and they do work. I don't know about the doctors in your area, but in our area, it is very difficult to get an antibiotic unless they are convinced that it is bacterial. I am sure that you are a good mother, but don't make snap judgments about medicine unless you have a medical degree. Instead, ask the doctors to explain to you why they are prescribing the medicine.

Your physician has to look out for his patient's well being and protect himself from legal issues based on your non-compliance. Of course it is legal for him to do this.

I'm guessing this is the child who a year and a half ago had fluid in his ears for six months and you treated him alternatively?? There is more to this than just not giving the second round of medication, your physician must consider this a pattern and felt your child was in danger.

drs can call cps. so can school teachers and anyone working at the school. did the dr tell you she didnt have an ear infection when they gave the second antibiotic? also are you aware that your child can go deaf from an ear infection that isnt properly treated. if cps comes out they will talk to you access the children and your home and most likely move on.

You got a lot of good answers here on both sides of the equation.
I am a funny one - I'm a liberal, and I don't believe in over medicating, and I personally don't use alot of medications.
However, I absolutely vaccinate my kids. Why? Because for thousands of years people died for lack of them. Thanks to vaccines and medical advances, the mortality rate has dropped drastically in the past 50 years. So yes, I am a believer.
As for anti-biotics. Yes, they can be over-used. For ear infections, I have found with my 3 kids that they are absolutely 100% necessary. My son has been sick for a week. We were at the dr last week, the day we were in they checked his ears, not infected. No antibiotics prescribed. He continued to be sick. I should have taken him back 2 days later for a recheck but stupidly thought "well they just checked" waited a couple more days of horrible sleepless nights for him and me. Then took him back, and found he had a double ear infection. We got an antibiotic and that same night, great sleep. He is now fully on the mend and catching up on sleep like a champ.
In my experience, with the 3 kids, and my own health, doctors did not over prescribe for us, and I have seen positive results.
There are other things like the overlabeling of psychiatric illnesses with children and prescribing serious drugs like they're tylenol, that I think I'd be FAR more nervous about than antibiotics.

I think you need a doctor who tracks more with your beliefs.
I think you should definitely cooperate with CPS. Should be no problem for you.

You are not a doctor and shouldnt act like one in regards to your childs health. Give him the antibiotics. I had fluid in my ears and an earache and didnt take anything bc i was breastfeeding. I lost my hearing in one ear for 2 weeks. Luckily it came back when i decided i'd like to hear and took the antibiotics. They also said if the fluid didnt come out theyd have to slit my ear drum to driain them. And i get ear infections from not treating my sinus infections from my allergies. So not all are viral. And as far as the yeast infection make sure your child eats lots of yogurt while on antibiotics. NO fun!
I don't know about CPS. Did the doctor or CPS actually tell you it was the Dr?

That's horrible! Our pediatrician even knows & says that ear infections will ususually clear up on there own.

That is so scary. Sorry you have to deal with this.

I know amazing doctors (including our MD and our endocrinologist) and I know power abusing, arrogant, and egotistical doctors (like our former pediatrician).

Call your doctor and ask if he/she reported you. It's your choice to give antibiotics or not. My doctor is very clear on parental rights and we have mutual respect for each other. If I explain my hesitation on a certain medication, he is willing to hear me out.

Antibiotics in this situation are ludicrous. Be confident in your gut instinct! CPS isn't going to do anything about this, if they do, find out FOR SURE if your doc reported you and then complain to the clinic administrator.

Cooperate with CPS. You have nothing to hide. Switch doctors. I have refused lots of advice my doctor has given including all vaccines, removing dairy, I have refused antibiotics when they weren't necessary.... It drives him batty but he knows I'm a good mom and my kids are healthy, happy and super sweet. I found out recently his office has changed policy on antibiotics and now no longer recommends them for the situation I refused them for! He has not called CPS in the six years since he delivered my first nor would he. Likewise he has not called CPS on a lady we know who uses him who has wrongfully diagnosed all her kids with disorders and is borderline abusive and he has been notified. Some doctors are CPS crazy and some would have to be VERY hard pressed to call. Ge a different one if you are sure that's who called.

Doctors are trained to care for their patients. You should be so lucky as to have one who follows up on your child's care, regardless of your difference in beliefs.

I would strongly suggest getting a second opinion before making medical decisions on your own. Unless you are indeed an MD, you may be making a huge mistake. Yes, some doctors DO overprescribe, but many don't. What if it's the case that your child is resistant to the first type of antibiotics used? THAT'S one reason why they "don't work," NOT because it's viral in nature. You might have seriously injured your child because of an uneducated guess on your part!

I am 100% for holistic healing - we controlled my child's behavior problems with diet instead of meds - but you have to draw the line of your knowledge somewhere. Unless you have ENT training and know exactly the nature of her problem, get a second opinion from another pediatrician. This isn't something you screw around with. Drop the defensiveness and get help for your child - that's what a "good mom" does!

That's why I'm very careful who I take my kids to. I don't trust regular doctors. My kids see a naturopathic doctor. I would suggest switching yourself!

I really hate when people over-step. Doctors are not in an authority place in our lives. We pay them for advice. It's our choice to take it or not. This is a doctor that needs to be taken down a peg or two.

I went to a doctor in New York in 2000 to start my 4th daughter on her first round of vaccines. I asked her about an eye infection she had gotten from a daycare child I had just begun watching. I asked her how to tell when it's okay to send the child home. She gave me a huge lecture about how antibiotics are prescribed so much and how some countries never treat for ear infections at all. She was pregnant with her first. I think she was taking her anxiety out on me at the thought of how much her own child would get sick because of her line of work and the germs she'll take home. I actually do believe this doctor that I was dealing with is right and that most providers should suck it up and keep kids that have minor illnesses. Even strep throat isn't all that bad once the antibiotics are in place. But at the time I was not yet ready to believe in non-medical methods and cures.

Do the research you need and go to a lawyer if you can. If not, go to the national papers. As much as I HATE the ACLU, I would call them and ask about this case. This doctor needs to be sued.

I would venture to say that unless CPS told you that it was the doctor, you could be wrong. I would also say that if you have argued with your doc and told him all your holistic beliefs, that this could have led him to call to see if you had refilled the prescription.

I will tell you that you are lucky that your child's eardrum has never burst because of you mistaking a viral infection for one that antibiotics are needed for. I don't actually believe that 90% of ear infections are viral - I am sure that you could provide reams of info pushing that view, but I will bet there's plenty on the other side too.

If you don't want doctors calling CPS or friends and family members who are worried about the baby, don't tell everyone how much you disagree with modern medicine. (Or at least, don't talk about it when your child is sick.)

I don't know what your rights are, but you could always take your child to an ear specialist to show that you are doing your best to care for her needs.

Dawn

Legally anyone can hotline anyone else. They are just going to call you and let it go.

I am not sure he should have called cps, but maybe he was concerned that even if he talked to you again that you were not going to give your child the antibiotics. Which I cannot stress enough that your child needs to take antibiotics for fluid in the ears. Look I respect your views regarding treating your children naturally but come on, we as people are living to be so much older today thanks to medicine and vacinnes. Back in the day people died in their 30s. So please listen to your dr he knows what he is doing and trust me drs are extremely careful when px antibiotics. I am sure you are an amazing mom and maybe you should find another pedi that may be more understanding and more patient.

you to need to report your doctor to the medical board, NOW. complain to the hospital that they work out of, hand out fliers right outside the clinic doors, stated in plain facts, that the doctor OVERSTEPPED THEIR BOUNDS, and will probably do it again, only this time to them ! my obgyn, dr hyde, of va. phys. for women claimed in writing that i was retarded, he passed his"expert medical findings" onto every doctor, nurse and, of course CPS, i got even by going on the va. phys. for women's website, and telling EVERY potential customer about his smear campaign ! you might try this, doctors HATE negative publicity !! and he cant claim he didnt say this about me, because i have written proof !
K. h.
about the holistic approach.. ben and i will try something herbal first, rather then hitting the medicine cabinet first, and if the symptoms persists, then its doctor time. this approach works for us, because it can help pinpoint the problem, rather then the symptom. as for cps inviting themselves to your home, you are under no legal obligation to invite them in, the constitution gurantees this.however they could get a court order. when cps DOES invite themselves over, you have the right to demand to know WHO called them, and what EXACTLY are they claiming, you are under no legal obligation to answer questions regarding your religion, race, physical disabity or ethnic background.

Oh My Gosh!! I can't believe that!! I'm not sure what exactly the laws would be on that, but wouldn't you assume that parents have the say-so when it comes to that. Last I knew, my SIL didn't give her kids any meds for ear infections either. She has done a lot of research on it too, and says you don't need antibiotics for that. I would definitely find a new doctor, and tell everybody you know what happened.

So unbelievable! Definitely find a new doctor. Look online to see if there is a place to "rate" your doctor so you can warn others. Over prescribing antibiotics has caused great harm to so many.
Hopefully, CPS will not hold this against you, but it will be in the records that you were reported. So, I would not let it go.

That is a ridiculous reason to call CPS. I can't believe they would take that seriously. I would find a new Dr. more in line with your values. Best of luck!

How do you know it was the doctor? I thought those calls were anonymous?

I wouldn't worry about it. If I were you, I would find another doctor ASAP that is more in-line with your holistic approach. (My doctor is a holistic doctor that will prescribe meds if needed. I love him!) Then if CPS comes to talk to you, tell them you found a new doctor and got a second opinion and the second doctor said meds weren't needed. Then just explain to them that she has some fluid on the ear and it doesn't require antibiotics (which caused a secondary infection) and she's doing fine.

Unless there is more to the story, like she's running a high fever, has strep or something else, it sounds like there was no reason for the doctor to call CPS.

Also, if I were in your shoes, I'd go to the doc's office to pick up her records and say that you're leaving because he called CPS for no good reason.

Good luck!

I notice you're from Austin. I live in Round Rock. My daughter never had ear infections until we moved here, then every year she gets them during "Cedar Fever", what the doc called "allergy induced ear infections". (the cedar has been high the past 2-3 weeks). That might not be the case with your daughter, however, try and find a practitioner who will help you treat the underlying causes, not the symptoms. The People's Pharmacy (several locations around Austin) has been very helpful in making alternative treatment recommendations for treating Cedar allergies. D-hist chewable have helped and homeopathic remedies have helped our family with Cedar allergies. People's Rx also has a clinic with holistic practitioners, so you might check into that. I'd make an appt with someone and consult, so that if CPS does follow up with you, you can say you are looking at alternative treatments and have met with another physician for a second opinion for treatments. As others have said, try not to be defensive or angry with CPS, or that could make you look worse.