A Pediatrician who doesn't have kids - poss. debate

[Hillbeans]

Does your Pediatrician have children of their own? Does it matter to you one way or another?

The reason that I ask is that a High School friend of mine is married to a Pediatrician and they don't have children. They've been married for probably 8 or 9 years (I don't see her anymore but she sees my father around town sometimes)

I guess it's always possible they don't want to or can't have kids, but for some reason it just got me thinking about it. I wonder if all Veterinarian's have pets? It just seems it would be a natural thing if that was your career choice? Do you think there are things a Pediatrician can/should know by raising their own children to help you care for yours?

Just to be clear, it does not matter to me one way or the other, in fact, I don't know if all of the Doctor's in my son's Pediatric group have their own children either.

 

[Mermaid02]

Our pediatrician is a lesbian and they do not have any children. Not a big deal to me. She obviously is very fond of kids.

 

[horseshowmom]

Personally, it wouldn't make any difference to me.

 

[phillybeth]

To me it's no different than going to a OB/GYN that doesn't have a uterus If they are competent, it doesn't matter what parts they have.

 

[wvjules]

If a pediatrician should have kids then a gynecologist should have a ******, an oncologist should have cancer, a neonatoligist should have had a preemie baby, etc.

What matters is how good of a doctor they are and how they treat their patients.

 

[jcsbama]

Mine doesn't have kids. He's talked about his god children before though. He's also still kinda young, so it just may not have happened yet. He's a great doctor, kids or no kids.

 

[ozarkmom]

I don't think it's something that I would even think about. As a matter of fact unless I saw pictures or they talked about their kids I probably wouldn't know. I would imagine that alot of doctors aren't even married when they get out of school.

 

[beattyfamily]

Our pediatrician didn't have children when we first started going to her but she does now. She's a family doctor so our whole family goes to her.

I prefer a woman doctor for myself but I don't care if a pediatrician has children or not.

 

[lindakmonty]

I'm not sure if my ds's pediatrician has children of his own or not. He's probably in his 50's.... but the sweetest guy in the world. He is great w/children!! Everyone I know goes to him. Now I'm curious if he has children or not...

 

[eclectics]

I wouldn't give it a second thought. I would never think to wonder about a Doctor's personal life. As long as that diploma is hanging on the wall, that's enough for me.

 

[Hillbeans]

If a pediatrician should have kids then a gynecologist should have a ******, an oncologist should have cancer, a neonatoligist should have had a preemie baby, etc.

What matters is how good of a doctor they are and how they treat their patients.

I agree - however I do know many women who ONLY want to go to a FEMALE OB/GYN for that very reason.

My OBGYN practice has one female Doctor and 3 male Doctors. There are patients of this group who only want to see her.

 

[DVC Sadie]

It wouldn't bother me at all, but then again I use to see a dentist named Dr. Payne and another doctor named Dr. Keel. My mother thought that was hysterical.

 

[rayelias]

You know when you go home after a hard day's work, the last thing you want to even think about is work related things?

 

[jbdreamer]

So your asking if people can work with kids if they don't have their own?

That would put a lot of people out of work. Like Teachers for one.

 

[mickeyboat]

One of the reasons I chose my pediatrician is because she had children around the same age as mine. I really enjoy being able to relate to her because we are both going through the same things at the same time.

That being said, I would not exclude a good doctor from caring for my children just because they do not have children themselves.

Denae

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There are gynecologists that don't have umm...well, they ain't women.

If someone loves children or loves animals--they can surely work in an occupation that deals with such without the prerequisite of having one.

 

[Hillbeans]

So your asking if people can work with kids if they don't have their own?

That would put a lot of people out of work. Like Teachers for one.

No, that's not what I was asking. I was more just curious why they didn't have children yet -

Just being nosy I guess - and with his choice of career i'd just assume they would have kids. I didn't mean any malice by it, just curious.

 

[disykat]

It doesn't matter to me. I taught before I had kids and I think I did a good job. I do admit, I treat kids slightly differently now that I have my own - I think I feel a more intimate connection with them - but I don't think it significantly changes my abilities with them. In fact, if I were to argue strictly ability or willingness to work extra hours, etc., I might have an argument for some professionals being more focused at work if they don't have kids.

That said, despite the fact that I know lots of people who love kids and are great with them that don't have their own children - I do sometimes find myself wondering why not. I think it's more of a "they'd be such great parents" thing than finding them lacking in any way though.

 

[momrek06]

Back in 1981 I got pregnant with son #1 due June 1982 (he just turned 24)...anyway I selected the TOP Peddy MD in the area. EVERYONE loved him, esp for his bedside manner with the premies, babies, toddlers, children. I met with him in Dec '81 and he was all set to be at the hospital for June '82! GREAT!!!
January 1981 he loses his ONLY child to crib death. Can you just imagine how devastating that was. Of course, everyone sent cards and called and prayed for his family.
June 1982 son is born and he was as wonderful an MD that day as he was in Dec. when we first chatted. I have NO idea how he did it all day long looking at other babies after losing his own child. We ended up moving out of state and I never had an MD again that was just that awesome and caring.

 

[tw1nsmom]

It really doesn't matter a great deal to me. Having said that, I can see a difference in the way our primary care Dr. interacts with the children, and with me regarding the children, when she started having kids.

She was a really good Dr. before she had children. I just seem to be able to communicate better with her now.