Paediatric patients range from newborns who are completely reliant on those around them, to toddlers full of energy and adolescents. The doctor patient relationship is only half the equation in paediatrics as most children come with parents who are understandably concerned for their child’s health. This makes for a potentially complex dynamic. Paediatricians are experts at engaging children at their level and gaining their trust. This is just as essential for small children as it is for adolescents. At the same time paediatricians must engage the parents and develop good rapport with them. Paediatricians often have the privilege of seeing their patients grow into adulthood, particularly those with chronic illness requiring frequent reviews. This is often very rewarding and a strong doctor-patient and doctor-parent relationship often develops. In the cases of adolescent children, or those who the doctor suspects are victims of neglect or abuse, the rights of parents are less clear and paediatricians are required to consider their patients first. Despite these difficulties most paediatricians describe the relationships they have with patients and their families as extremely rewarding.
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Website College of General Practice
Website RANZCO Vocational Training Program
Website AMA Comparison of Training Conditions & Vocational Training Costs in Australian Specialist Medical Training Programs
Book Careers in Medicine – The UNITED Handbook, 10th Edition 2006
Book The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty, Brian Freeman MD
Report The Ophthalmology Workforce in Australia:
12/08/08 College of General Practice
17/09/08 RANZCO Vocational Training Program
22/01/08 AMA Comparison of Training Conditions & Vocational Training Costs in Australian Specialist Medical Training Programs
02/12/07 Careers in Medicine – The UNITED Handbook, 10th Edition 2006
03/11/07 The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty, Brian Freeman MD
03/11/07 The Ophthalmology Workforce in Australia: AMWAC Report 1996
02/12/07 Careers in Medicine – The UNITED Handbook, 10th Edition 2006
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
To improve health and wellbeing for all Australians
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
To improve health and wellbeing for all Australians