squirrlygirl
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2007
- Messages
- 748
My son's father and I have legal and physical joint custody. There is not one person in charge of medical care. For the past five years, my son has visited the same pediatrician my other three children have for well-child visits, I have taken him to the orthodontist, and I have taken him for his eye exams. Dad takes him to the dentist for cleanings.
Last year I asked the ped. about a suspicious mole and she referred us to the U of M. Dad's new wife called them up, pretending to be me, and canceled the appointment. After my attorney got involved, dad took him to a local dermatologist, who removed the mole (as well as half his scalp it seems) and left a quarter-size scar (no hair) on the side of his head. The mole was precancerous.
Then in December DS got his braces removed. Dad called up the orthodontist office and asked to have my overpayment (insurance paid more than expected) sent to him, and the office refused. His wife called, pretended she was me, and "changed" my address and phone number, saying I had moved and had just realized the check would go to a bad address. Luckily the office is pretty sharp, and they turned around and called my phone number on file and asked if this was true.
A few weeks ago DS was seen at the pediatrician for headaches. Dad showed up, trying to claim I was lying about the headaches, and DS's blood pressure was 157/85 when they took it. Ped. determined it was allergies causing the headaches, and prescribed a new medication for him. She said she'd follow up at his already-scheduled well-child visit ( which was supposed to be next Wednesday). Also said she may have to do some bloodwork if his blood pressure was up on future readings (average for someone his size/age is 108/74 or something).
Then today I receive a certified letter from dad. DS is at his dad's for the week, and Dad took him for a physical Tuesday. Dad also threatened to take me to court if I contact the doctor over this because the office told him I let them know he was seeing a pediatrician.
I called the office to ask about getting the records sent to the pediatrician, and was placed on hold. The office manager comes on the line and starts out saying that she thought she had explained this to me clearly last week that only one doctor could be in "charge" of a patient. I stopped her right there, and told her that I had not called this office in two years. Apparently after they were denied a physical appt., Dad's wife pretended to be me on the phone and "straightened out" the doctor problem and assured them he was not under the care of any other doctor
To top it off, there is no mention of headaches, blood pressure, allergy medications, or follow-ups.
Dr's office is quite upset that Dad lied, and that his wife impersonated me. The manager feels DS should only be seen for urgent care, and then the records sent to the pediatrician. I'm waiting for a call back on how the doctor wants to handle it on their end. I haven't responded to dad yet, and I haven't talked to the pediatrician yet. I can't afford to hire an attorney AGAIN--my child support review last year ended up costing me three years worth of child support because dad lied to the court about his pay (even doctoring pay stubs
) In the past 12 years I've paid my attorney enough to make me cry. I have three other children that need to be thought of--I can't let their life suffer to fund a never-ending fight with my oldest's dad.
And now they're insisting they'll take me to court if I don't hand over the physical address of the exact villa we're staying in when we go to Disney next month. I'm terrified this woman is trying to find a way to cancel our reservation
So short of hiring an attorney, how do I handle this? Any thoughts? If I thought Dad could actually take DS for needed doctor visits (as opposed to ones designed to make my life difficult) I would just let him be in charge.
Last year I asked the ped. about a suspicious mole and she referred us to the U of M. Dad's new wife called them up, pretending to be me, and canceled the appointment. After my attorney got involved, dad took him to a local dermatologist, who removed the mole (as well as half his scalp it seems) and left a quarter-size scar (no hair) on the side of his head. The mole was precancerous.
Then in December DS got his braces removed. Dad called up the orthodontist office and asked to have my overpayment (insurance paid more than expected) sent to him, and the office refused. His wife called, pretended she was me, and "changed" my address and phone number, saying I had moved and had just realized the check would go to a bad address. Luckily the office is pretty sharp, and they turned around and called my phone number on file and asked if this was true.
A few weeks ago DS was seen at the pediatrician for headaches. Dad showed up, trying to claim I was lying about the headaches, and DS's blood pressure was 157/85 when they took it. Ped. determined it was allergies causing the headaches, and prescribed a new medication for him. She said she'd follow up at his already-scheduled well-child visit ( which was supposed to be next Wednesday). Also said she may have to do some bloodwork if his blood pressure was up on future readings (average for someone his size/age is 108/74 or something).
Then today I receive a certified letter from dad. DS is at his dad's for the week, and Dad took him for a physical Tuesday. Dad also threatened to take me to court if I contact the doctor over this because the office told him I let them know he was seeing a pediatrician.
I called the office to ask about getting the records sent to the pediatrician, and was placed on hold. The office manager comes on the line and starts out saying that she thought she had explained this to me clearly last week that only one doctor could be in "charge" of a patient. I stopped her right there, and told her that I had not called this office in two years. Apparently after they were denied a physical appt., Dad's wife pretended to be me on the phone and "straightened out" the doctor problem and assured them he was not under the care of any other doctor
To top it off, there is no mention of headaches, blood pressure, allergy medications, or follow-ups. Dr's office is quite upset that Dad lied, and that his wife impersonated me. The manager feels DS should only be seen for urgent care, and then the records sent to the pediatrician. I'm waiting for a call back on how the doctor wants to handle it on their end. I haven't responded to dad yet, and I haven't talked to the pediatrician yet. I can't afford to hire an attorney AGAIN--my child support review last year ended up costing me three years worth of child support because dad lied to the court about his pay (even doctoring pay stubs
) In the past 12 years I've paid my attorney enough to make me cry. I have three other children that need to be thought of--I can't let their life suffer to fund a never-ending fight with my oldest's dad.And now they're insisting they'll take me to court if I don't hand over the physical address of the exact villa we're staying in when we go to Disney next month. I'm terrified this woman is trying to find a way to cancel our reservation
So short of hiring an attorney, how do I handle this? Any thoughts? If I thought Dad could actually take DS for needed doctor visits (as opposed to ones designed to make my life difficult) I would just let him be in charge.
Your ex and his wifey sound like real prizes. 
I would go to your local Friend of the Court and fill out a complaint form based on step-moms behavior and Dad's unwillingness to cooperate. Make it a very sterile/unemotional statement. Is there a reason why you don't want them to have the address of the villa you're staying at while at WDW? Do you have consent from dad saying it's ok for ds to go to WDW in writing? Maybe you could give the address and phone number to one of your family members and if there is an emergency, Dad could contact your family who could then in turn contact you.
With his wife coming along behind me and canceling things, it just doesn't seem like a good idea. Dad already knows when we leave and when we come back, and knows we're staying at Windsor Hills while we're down there ( I wish we were onsite this trip!)
It sounds like the office was willing to set up a system with you though, thsts good at least.
