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3catwoman3

(29,395 posts)

30. "I quit seeing pediatric patients because of shitty parents."

Tue Jan 27, 2026, 11:51 AM

Jan 27

In peds, you always have 2 sets of patients - the kids, and their parents. The atter are often harder to e=deal with.

In my first private practice job after getting out of the Air Force nurse corps, my 3 physician employers warned me about a dad who was an attorney who would try to get things treated over the phone without bringing his daughter in to be examined.

He called on a Saturday, shortly before 12:00 noon, saying his daughter had a sore throat and demanding an antibiotic because she was in a play later that day, at 5 PM. He tried to play the, "I'm a lawyer" card. (So fucking what, I'm thinking.)

Having been forewarned, I was ready for him. I said something along the line of, "It would be malpractice for me to treat something I can't accurately diagnose, and even if this were strep, she would not feel better 5 hours from now and would still be contagious."

I was surprised, relieved, and triumphant when he did not argue.

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Highlight:

"Oh! My little sweetums isn't going to get into Harvard* because of you!" Teaching "the entitled." [View all] Are_grits_groceries Jan 27 OP

The parents are raising a bunch of little Donald Trumps. n/t CousinIT Jan 27 #1

You won't get that unfairly treated story from me NJCher Jan 27 #2

Strangely enough, that's somewhat true, not that it should apply here. LisaM Jan 27 #32

Must have been using corporate ethics rules. LiberalArkie Jan 27 #41

Jeez. Collaboration is one thing, cheating is another. Joinfortmill Jan 27 #52

I completely agree. LisaM Jan 27 #57

Yes Timewas Jan 27 #3

I'm afraid this is one of a few countries multigraincracker Jan 27 #4

been going on for years. AllaN01Bear Jan 27 #8

And the elderly. rubbersole Jan 27 #9

As well as a low regard for education PatSeg Jan 27 #13

Indeed, it's not seen as a way to better oneself overall Wednesdays Jan 27 #23

True, it isn't about learning PatSeg Jan 27 #31

My wife taught high school for 35 years AverageOldGuy Jan 27 #5

I had certain lines. Are_grits_groceries Jan 27 #7

Sounds like my wife lonely bird Jan 27 #29

Teachers are on the front lines of a cultural shift. yardwork Jan 27 #6

Even Harvard sends out a word of advice with its rejection letters DFW Jan 27 #10

You know, I don't think legacy admissions are always bad. LisaM Jan 27 #28

I'm sure there is plenty of both DFW Jan 27 #64

My daughter was Valedictorian of her high school Mossfern Jan 27 #51

I live near Princeton and often use their amazing libraries. NNadir Jan 27 #59

Considering Mossfern Jan 27 #62

Your daughter is, I'm sure, all the better for it. NNadir Jan 27 #67

Good for her! DFW Jan 27 #66

That is such a hilarious and heart warming story! Mossfern Jan 27 #69

When I had explained what the pledge was, she asked a very German question. DFW Jan 28 #73

Ah, a brilliant child. Mossfern Jan 28 #74

Love this. 'Revenge is best served cold.' Joinfortmill Jan 27 #53

They gave her a polite, standard impersonal rejection. DFW Jan 28 #78

I've had a couple of work colleagues from Harvard: snot Jan 28 #77

I honor your service, grits. Clouds Passing Jan 27 #11

You are clearly doing the right thing Jarqui Jan 27 #12

They'll learn to cheat their way through life. A habit that never occurred to me. enigmania Jan 27 #14

I've encountered the end result of this process at the college level. cab67 Jan 27 #15

Cheating is never OK at any level. Hoosier_Progressiv Jan 27 #18

luckily for me - cab67 Jan 27 #68

That is so true, and it's hurting academia. LisaM Jan 27 #34

Yes, me too. meadowlander Jan 27 #54

I could never be a teacher. Aristus Jan 27 #16

I spent part of my career teaching in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Are_grits_groceries Jan 27 #20

"I quit seeing pediatric patients because of shitty parents." 3catwoman3 Jan 27 #30

Well done! Aristus Jan 27 #43

I remember feeling pretty anxious, as standing up to bombastic assholes... 3catwoman3 Jan 27 #48

if something had gone wrong that asshole would be suing you immediately Skittles Jan 27 #72

Wow. Amazes me. I practically worshipped my pediatrician. He knew his 'shit', if you'll excuse the expression.. Joinfortmill Jan 27 #55

Expression excused - shit, in all its forms, is a major topic of discussion... 3catwoman3 Jan 27 #58

Lol Joinfortmill Jan 27 #60

I'm a primary care provider. I don't really have any interest in pediatrics, even separate from parental douchebaggery. Aristus Jan 27 #65

makes me appreciate my parents more Skittles Jan 27 #71

Harvard has open enrollment degrees that are worthwhile. SSJVegeta Jan 27 #17

Not according to that parent. Are_grits_groceries Jan 27 #22

You must have expected this reply: Bobstandard Jan 27 #36

They Should Thank You! MineralMan Jan 27 #19

I told them over and over that a zero would not kill him. Are_grits_groceries Jan 27 #24

I know. They should listen. MineralMan Jan 27 #25

That's true of the kid who didn't study Tree Lady Jan 27 #38

Similiar issues at the preschool i worked at for many years, mwmisses4289 Jan 27 #21

Thank you , Are_grits_groceries. As a retired teacher who taught for 42 years. I saw this happening toward the end of my debm55 Jan 27 #26

Great post! All blessings to you. My grandparents raised me, and both were teachers. txwhitedove Jan 27 #27

I had a run in with a teacher JustAnotherGen Jan 27 #33

Guidelines Needed PikaBlue Jan 27 #35

Same thing happened to me in first grade. malthaussen Jan 27 #37

Do your own damn work! - my dad paleotn Jan 27 #44

My parents were both in education haele Jan 27 #39

When my youngest son was in elementary school I'd greet him with the question... NNadir Jan 27 #40

Guess I'm just old and grew up in a different time paleotn Jan 27 #42

Amen to that. Joinfortmill Jan 27 #56

Sounds like you're a great teacher PJMcK Jan 27 #45

One of the reasons I didn't pursue an academic career Easterncedar Jan 27 #46

See.... Jughead Jan 27 #47

Sweetums was never going to get into Harvard. TNNurse Jan 27 #49

Yup, consequences matter...It builds character. Joinfortmill Jan 27 #50

They're not raising resilient kids fujiyamasan Jan 27 #61

Slightly off topic, but not much. When I was in 3rd grade... 3catwoman3 Jan 27 #63

One of a myriad of reasons JokeHer Jan 27 #70

Zero accountability from these people. Scott Alan Swaggerty Jan 28 #75

I became a teacher as a second career, I thought long about this before I responded. cksmithy Jan 28 #76