Parents who do not want to give their newborn vitamins or do not let them dry off after an emergency birth. That is what pediatrician Mark Hoetjer is increasingly noticing, as he explains in the AD.
“He who is not at war for a long time neglects his army.” According to pediatrician Hoetjer, this is the core of what is currently going on in healthcare. The Netherlands is doing so well that there are few teething problems. As a result, parents begin to doubt the usefulness of preventive treatments for those diseases.
Why is there less vaccination?
Parents skip vaccinations and rely on doctors’ judgments. “This of course keeps us very busy as pediatricians. I recently took a child with whooping cough to the intensive care unit during the night shift and received a letter about a child who died from this, while it could have been prevented with a vaccination.”
The doctor explains that there used to be many more sick children than there are now. Parents were happy with all the help they could get to make their child better, but now we see sick children less often. If their child does become ill, they want to know why it happened and who is to blame. They also wonder whether vaccinations and other medical treatments are still necessary, because they think their children are less likely to get sick.
Also read – This is what you think about compulsory vaccination: ‘Don’t endanger my children with your medieval claims’
Question marks about vitamins
In addition to vaccines, parents also question vitamins. “Vitamin K. We give this to newborn babies, because scientific research shows that otherwise there is a greater risk of a brain haemorrhage. It is only a small percentage, but the chance is there. Yet some parents choose not to give these vitamins to their child.”
What the doctor also notices are the specific wishes in birth plans. For example, some parents do not want the baby to be dried immediately after birth. They think that the baby’s sebum keeps the skin supple and protects it against bacteria. “That’s fine, but if a child is born badly, we really want to dry it off. Otherwise, the body will cool down quickly and the outcome of resuscitation will be less. Some parents are so clingy to their wishes. They did not take unexpected things into account. Two worlds collide then.”
Also read – Everything you need to know about vitamins for your child
The time of the white coat
It is understandable that people have doubts about interventions in a healthy life. Some believe that we should let nature take its course. “But as a society we have agreed to prevent certain diseases, including through vaccinations and healthy drinking water. These choices are becoming increasingly important now that we can afford them,” shares the doctor.
“As a doctor, I think it is good that parents are increasingly involved in the health of their children. The time of the white coat that determines everything is over. Medicine is not black and white, and neither is scientific research. This gives room for discussion, which we as doctors must engage in.”
Long-term
“If parents refuse important treatments, we can do two things: inform them and leave it at that, or call the Child Protection Council if the situation is serious. Sometimes intervention is necessary, especially when it comes to the child’s health and well-being.
In the long term, doubts about medical treatments can create holes in our healthcare system. We’ll have to wait and see if we can afford that, but I’m afraid not. ” According to the pediatrician, we will only see what the consequences are in a few years.
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2024-04-11 09:21:34
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