To write a letter straight back to my daughters consultant

[Zazz101]

My daughter has complex medical needs. We met a new consultant the other week who did not listen to a single word I said. I have never felt more frustrated.....following on from our consultation he sent a letter to me, our GP and all the other doctors involved in my daughters care. The letter is full of errors regarding ages/dates and clinical test results.

My concern in once something is in writing, especial written by a consultant it is then seen as fact.

Should I write a letter back correcting all his errors and send it to everyone he sent the original letter to ?

If I do, what can I hope to achieve ? The consultant in question dismisses everyone else's opinion, and anything I said as mum was nonsense .......

Thank you

I would but I'd do it in a overly nice way rather than stroppy iykwim- it's hard when they can't even get the basics like your child's name right my baby ds was in hospital recently and his name on the door was wrong getting stroppy didnt get that and the notes changed but when I changed to being overly nice about it soon got done

Well it doesn't sound like you're going to get the best care from this consultant. Rather than correcting errors can you arrange to change consultant?

I'd feel compelled to respond to that. If there are factual errors they need correcting, and if there are major differences of medical opinion in terms of assessment perhaps seeking a second opinion from another consultant is best?

My sister's children both had unusual medical conditions as babies and she was essentially written off as batshit crazy by health visitors and doctors (they went as far as suggesting she had mental health problems), before discovering -hey presto- she was right! At that point one of her children could have died if she had followed the professional advice she had been given. That's an extreme case and the only one like it I've heard of, but it's left me feeling the parents' instinct and input should not be ignored, ever.

It's vital to correct the factual errors because the letter has gone to every health professional involved in the child's care.

Yes, send an amended version back with a covering letter and ask for the report to be recirculated with the correct information.

He was a ' consulting' consultant, so not our main one, but one that unfortunately is held in extremely high regard ! That is why I am concerned, as since he has written his opinion as facts...

I've done as I suggested twice now, it's fine - really.

yes absolutely do it. but professionally and civilly, and don't apologise.

Yep agree too. Totally OK to write back and correct all the 'wrong' information.
Keep it very factual and ask for the letters to be circulated again.
I would also contact your 'normal' consultant about it. he might be held in high regards but making mistakes like this has to be highlighted to you consultant just in case he is basing his next advice/treatment with your dd on recommendations based on the worng information iyswim.

I think it would be a good idea to point out politely where they've got their facts wrong as these may impact on the treatment. Could you visit your GP, tell him about these errors and say that you'd like to change consultants as, due to the fore-mentioned you have little faith in him, no matter how highly regarded he is by others?

Is it possible for you to get in touch with the consultant's secretary, either the original one or the 'consulting' one that was so rude and ask her what you should do? Secretaries are very knowledgeable, especially in dealing with the demi-god attitude of some consultants.

That's rubbish. I've encountered this. I would contact his secretary and tell her that you've noted lots of factual errors that may impact on your Ds's future care and request that the letter is amended and resent.

In this situation, your GP can be quite helpful, if you have a decent one?

Dd-sorry, autocorrect.

I really do think that you should correct those errors. Top letter reading is alawys a risk

I've kinda done this before I emailed pals when out consultant did the same.

I just pointed out the errors and within a week the consultant phoned me to go over his new letter and sent it out to all dd's hcp's

Ive done it. A psychologist translated a comment 'school just think it's normal for DS with his dx' to "school are interested"!

I just rang up and asked the comment be corrected or removed as it could cause tensions in the relationship.

arent interested!

arent interested!

Yes, you must ask for all factual errors to be corrected.

Be brief and polite.

Ask for it to be re-circulated.

Be prepared for a childish response though.

We're just moving this to AIBU at OP's request - they didn't mean to post in relationships.

I had a consultant write out a prescription wrong three times and it was so frustrating to keep going back and forward from the pharmacy to the consultant. (The pharmacy wouldn't issue the tablets until the prescription was right).

Even after the problem was resolved it made me doubt the consultant's knowledge as I kept thinking if you can't even write a prescription correctly what else are you getting wrong.

Sorry I have gone slightly off topic. In your case I would definitely ensure that the mistakes in the letter are corrected.

MalcolmTuckersEyebrows
The way you have constructed that letter is great.