Men and Paediatrics? Is this considered Ethical?

**ManFromTheJam** · 06-03-2006, 06:15 PM

Thank you all for your advice. Please don't get me wrong however, I have no intention of changing career path, but I'm glad that I'm not alone in this decision.

In a world where men and children in the same room maybe considered "questionable" by an ill informed few, it is nice to think that I am not the only guy out there who feels that working with young people and children is not only acceptable, but potentially a good thing, after all a good doctor is a good doctor.

But of course there will always be raised eyebrows, the same judgement cursed onto the male nurse. Anyone who has seen the film "meet the parents" will know and understand this. I think it is something we (male paediatric students) must all face and laugh off, after all, it is a bad misconception that some people have: Men and Children don't mix.

**Godofsmallthingys** · 06-03-2006, 06:32 PM

Again probably due to the public perception of the Paed in Paediatratics...
However the downside is ya have to be good with children. Not when you are just in the mood but every single day... Thats tough. I mean medicine is a stressful job and it shows later on in life, but to try and force it behind a facade to deal with kids can be a tad detrimental... And besides has it not been said "never work with children or animals?" (alright the rest of that phrase does'nt apply here.) There are some fantastic male paediatriticians however the main worry is the opportunity to abuse is so high... This may frighten the public perception. However the same can be said of teachers so in the end its all about public perception...

This does raise an important hypothetical question. Should we all pass medicine and become doctors (a terrifying thought that i may one day have people's lives in my hand... the power rush!!!) what would our reaction be if someone refuses treatment on the basis of our gender, sexuality, race or religion? And likewise would we refuse to respect a certain belief (i am sure none of us here would refuse treatment on the basis of gender - alright maybe some logical ones... - sexuality or other criteria) on the fact that its a tad silly in our eyes? Would we let a Jehovah's witness die on the basis of no transplants? Would we do a circumsision solely for the benefit of religious belief?

**jay-mob** · 06-03-2006, 06:38 PM

It's a thing of choice and personal interests to be honest and if you think you can handle from small children to depressive teenager's and all these things in between, I would not worry about the man and pediatrics bit because first of all my pediatric was a men and because a good friend has is pediatrics exam just behind him, and the third is since when was it out to be an male pediatric i have never heard it or well that it was unethical

.

**kerry-blue** · 06-03-2006, 07:09 PM

Hi Man from the jam...

Just because women are seen as children loving people doesnt quite mean that they are going to be better paeds than male doctors.
Not all women are naturals with children...

From a personal opinion, i have three children.and i would sooner a male doctor with confidence and a good rapor with my children who knows his job look after them, rather than a female paed with no natural instinct(and there are some out there believe me!)

I have always found that my children connect better with male doctors,as a male presecence is usually seen as a fun loving person like dad, rather than a more,.... how do i put it .....disciplined mother !!

Dont let anyone get between you and your goals...

After all arent most childrens hero`s male !!!!!!
Good luck..

Kerry

**pipedreamer** · 06-03-2006, 11:35 PM

I've never heard anybody saying that male medical students aren't suitable for a career in paediatrics.

In our paediatrics department the split is roughly 50/50 between male and female doctors. Most of the paediatricians involved in our teaching have been male and they have never been anything but professional. Male surgeons and anaesthetists also regularly care for paediatric patients and nobody ever complains about that.

There has recently been some controversy over male medical students being disadvantaged on OB/GYN attachments because female patients are less willing to consent for them to be present and/or conduct an examination. However, I haven't heard anything like this regarding paeds.

Don't forget that one or both parents will nearly always be present when a child is ill as well as nursing staff, other doctors etc. - you are not left on your own to examine a child.

If you are smart, polite and professional then I think it's highly unlikely that anyone would refuse to have a male doctor treating their child. Good luck

**Welsh medic to be!** · 07-03-2006, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by ManFromTheJam

Men and Children don't mix.

Exactly, it is a very wrong misconseption, I don't suppose they have stopped to think that maybe the paediatrician will have kids of his own. As you said, it is only a mis-informed few that are of this opinion, and if everyone else is happy, WHO CARES??!!

**tig220** · 07-03-2006, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Godofsmallthingys

There are some fantastic male paediatriticians however the main worry is the opportunity to abuse is so high... This may frighten the public perception. However the same can be said of teachers so in the end its all about public perception...

I spent a week workshadowing a male consultant paediatrician and for the whole time i was there not once did i see a situation where a child was left on their own with a Dr. In all consultations a parent was present and on the wards ther were many other patients, nurses and families.
I do not see any reason why men should be judged for going into paediatrics. As long as the patients are being treated effectively it shouldn't matter who by!
Also patient vunerabilty is just as much of an issue of recent times with the elderly as it is with children.

**supangoi** · 07-03-2006, 11:42 PM

i'm interested in peads as a career path too and i won't let other people's judgements deter me from that

...however i've heard somewhere that once a child reaches a certain age they learn not to trust men as much as women, and of course trust is essential between a patient and their doc ....so its gna be harder for those male peads

**Heeby** · 07-03-2006, 11:54 PM

er...whenever i've been to a peads ward (from a patients relative point of view) the male docs have been just as good if not better than most female docs. infact my six yr old sister has probably had more contact with male docs and has never batted an eyelid.
And at the end of the day; a good doctor is a good doctor regardless of their gender!

**Jonathan Ford** · 08-03-2006, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by ManFromTheJam

Thank you all for your advice. Please don't get me wrong however, I have no intention of changing career path, but I'm glad that I'm not alone in this decision.

In a world where men and children in the same room maybe considered "questionable" by an ill informed few, it is nice to think that I am not the only guy out there who feels that working with young people and children is not only acceptable, but potentially a good thing, after all a good doctor is a good doctor.

But of course there will always be raised eyebrows, the same judgement cursed onto the male nurse. Anyone who has seen the film "meet the parents" will know and understand this. I think it is something we (male paediatric students) must all face and laugh off, after all, it is a bad misconception that some people have: Men and Children don't mix.

As a male nurse, I've had this bullshit in spades. Apparently, I must be gay. Or I must be a perv who gets his jollies wiping old dears' arses. If I were you, I'd confront any of this head on, it's unacceptable prejudice.

Personally, I couldn't work in paeds because I find my own children nauseating and objectionable enough without surrounding myself with others, but crack on with it!