How to Support a Child Through a Complicated Medical Journey

Do you want to help your child get through their complex medical journey as smoothly as possible?

When doctors inform parents that their child has a serious illness or injury, life changes forever. Complex medical journeys are stressful, chaotic, and emotionally exhausting for everyone involved. However…

With proper support, kids can make a full recovery without suffering unnecessary pain.

Here’s what you need to know about protecting your child during a complex medical journey:

1. Why Your Child Has a Duty of Care From Medical Providers
2. Advocating for the Right Diagnosis
3. How To Build Your Child’s Medical Support Team
4. Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Health
5. Steps to Take if You Suspect a Duty of Care Violation

Why Your Child Has a Duty of Care From Medical Providers

Legal wise, duty of care refers to the reasonable level of treatment that any medical provider should give to their patients.

But when that patient is your child, you want providers to go above and beyond to ensure your child gets better.

Why? Pediatric patients rely on adults to notice subtle symptoms and come to the right conclusions. Children’s bodies also respond differently to medicines and procedures.

That’s why it’s so important to hold medical providers to a higher standard when your child is in their care.

If doctors, nurses, and specialists fail to provide the level of care your child needs, serious harm can occur.

For instance, duty of care violations happen when:

• A doctor misses a diagnosis
• Doctors delay treatment
• Doctors don’t take important symptoms seriously

…and parents are left scrambling to figure out what went wrong.

If your child’s diagnosis was delayed or completely missed by their doctors, misdiagnosis attorneys can help families understand their legal options and hold negligent providers accountable.

Misdiagnosis and late diagnosis are two of the most common forms of duty of care violation.

Researchers estimate that approximately 795,000 Americans die or are permanently disabled each year due to diagnostic mistakes. Children are one of the largest demographics affected by improper treatment.

Advocating for the Right Diagnosis

Every successful treatment plan starts with the right diagnosis.

Without a proper diagnosis, doctors can’t effectively treat your child.

The problem?

Diagnosing children is incredibly difficult.

Children often cannot communicate their symptoms clearly, syndromes have overlapping symptoms, and Emergency Rooms are not always equipped to handle pediatric cases.

So how can parents ensure their child receives the proper diagnosis?

Start by being hyper-aware of your child’s symptoms. Not sure where to start? Create a symptoms journal for your child.

Parents should:

• Ask questions at every appointment and request print resources
• Seek second opinions if you are unhappy with an answer
• Present your child’s doctor with a list of symptoms and concerns
• Request copies of all test results and medical records

No physician is above questioning. Parents know their children better than anyone. If you feel like something is wrong, continue to advocate for your child until you get some answers.

How To Build Your Child’s Medical Support Team

Parents should be aware that one pediatrician will not be enough to manage your child’s health.

When your child’s care is being handled by a team of doctors that talk to each other, you’ll see the best results.

Consider:

If your child needs to see a specialist, go to therapy, and have surgery you’ll be dealing with at least four doctors. Without a central point of contact, important information can slip through the cracks.

Here’s how to break down your child’s medical support team:

• Pediatrician: Your child’s primary doctor. This doctor will help manage all of your child’s care and keep tabs on their overall health.
• Specialist: Doctors that focus strictly on your child’s particular condition.
• Patient advocate: Most hospitals offer free patient advocates. They can help you understand options and even deal with insurance.

Ask every provider you work with if they have access to your child’s full medical history. This will help to prevent any miscommunications between doctors.

Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Health

Children’s mental health deserves just as much attention as their physical recovery.

Treating a serious injury or illness takes a toll on your child’s mental health. Long hospital stays, invasive procedures, and the fear of not knowing can cause your child serious mental anguish.

Children struggling with medical trauma can develop:

• A fear of hospitals and doctors
• Anger from not being able to understand what’s happening
• Feelings of isolation from missing out on school
• Low self-esteem due to their condition

Not to mention, parents are fighting an emotional battle too. Between doctor’s appointments, medications, and insurance claims the stress can be overwhelming. Taking care of your mental health is important too.

Help your child by:

Communicating with your child. Let them know what is going on and answer any questions they have. A child who understands why they are receiving treatment will cope better with what they are going through.

Don’t be afraid to seek outside support. Therapists who specialise in children with medical trauma can help your child process what they are going through.

Parents are their child’s greatest advocate. But you can’t help them if you’re running on empty. Ask family members for help, take time for yourself, and lean on support groups.

Steps to Take if You Suspect a Duty of Care Violation

Despite your best efforts, some doctors will let you down.

Your child’s condition will be misdiagnosed. Your child’s treatment will be delayed. A doctor will ignore key symptoms that would be obvious to any trained professional.

This is called a duty of care violation.

Just like any other traumatic health event, these violations can have life-long consequences for your child. A missed diagnosis of a serious condition can cause lifelong injuries, disabilities, and even death.

If you suspect that your child’s provider violated their duty of care, here’s what you should do:

1. Immediately take your child to another doctor for a second opinion. Better safe than sorry.
2. Gather any and all medical records, test results, and any other documentation you have related to your child’s treatment.
3. Write down a timeline of events. You want to be able to recall all key information while its fresh in your mind.
4. Contact a lawyer who specialises in medical negligence cases. They will help you understand your child’s options.

You want justice for your child, but more importantly you want your child to get the treatment they need as soon as possible.

Bringing It All Together

Supporting your child through a complex medical journey isn’t easy.

It will test your patience, your emotional strength, and push you. To advocate for your child’s care you’ll need to educate yourself on their condition and track their symptoms.

Once again, here’s your quick recap:

• Know your child’s duty of care rights from medical providers
• Keep track of your child’s symptoms, medical records, and always seek second opinions
• Build a team of medical professionals that work together to treat your child
• Don’t neglect your child’s mental and emotional health during treatment
• If you suspect that a doctor has violated your child’s duty of care, seek legal help immediately

No parent should ever have to fight for competent medical care for their child. But knowing what to do when doctors fall short can make all the difference for your child’s future.