To ask who gets final say on medicating child if parents disagree?

[ShowerOfMonsters]

Split decision parents.
Recommendation from professional.
Paediatrician not convinced it's necessary.
No official diagnosis, just a high probability.
Child is 8.

Too vague. Impossible to say from that.

Nobody can judge from that!

Ritalin?

Use the rule of Do the least Harm.

It'll be sorted out in court if no agreement can be reached.

Expect, based on the scanty info you have provided, for it to be for no treatment. Because directing a form of treatment to go ahead when one parent objects usually only ever occurs when there is strong medical consensus on the benefits, that appears to be absent in this case.

Which professional reccomends it?

What does the child think?

Is it (eg) teaching professional vs a medical one.

Too little info. What's the purported diagnosis? What is the role of the "expert?". Who will write the prescription if paediatrition doesn't agree?

What is the potential harm from treating if the diagnosis is wrong?

What's the harm of not treating if diagnosis is correct?

Do both parents have parental responsibility?

What's the child's thoughts?

Won't it have to be a Court decision if no one can agreee

Far too vague. What role does the professional hold? What is the condition where medication has been recommended? Why does the paed think it’s not necessary?

Of course you don’t need to answer any of those questions, but I can’t answer without the answers iyswim?

Courts can decide. Based on what you've said, unlikely they would rule to medicate. The only thing they have consistently ruled is in favour of vaccination when parents don't agree

Educational psychologist.
Child doesn't know it's under discussion (yet).
It would be AD(H)D medication, not necessarily Ritalin.

Dh and I will always trial and review. Agreeing to trial something doesnt mean agreeing forever. Set limits and boundaries in advance.

Why would you medicate a child without a diagnosis?

Edit professional not expert

I’d see what the child thinks too.
It’s a tough one, ed psych could be reasonable recommending medication, especially if it’s behaviour/coping related.

Dh and I will always trial and review. Agreeing to trial something doesnt mean agreeing forever. Set limits and boundaries in advance.
This seems most sensible

Just seen your further post - if you trial the medication, ask the child which they prefer. Im a head of year, ive had two kids medicate for ADHD. Pupil A is the happiest he has ever been. The medication has worked wonders and he feels he can cope. Pupil B feels muted. However, the benifits at school make it worth it. She stops taking the meds at weekends and holidays. Your child will have the biggest insight.

Who will be prescribing the medication?
Adhd meds are usually prescribed by a pass consultant - and need careful monitoring. They come with side effects and should be used with caution.
If a paed is saying not necessary then who is prescribing and monitoring? The ed psych certainly won't be.

If he hasn’t even been diagnosed with adhd then who would prescribe medication?

Get a diagnosis. Look at options available IF he is diagnosed and then decide. Seems you may be jumping the gun a bit

Paediatrician would prescribe if we are sure we want to trial it. Yes, side effects are a worry. Especially as it's not a definite diagnosis.

The Ed Psych cant prescribe it so if your Drs are saying ‘no’ then you can’t get it, or you’ll have to find a Dr who will prescribe.

Just seen your last post. As a parent I wouldn’t be giving something like Ritalin without a diagnosis.

As an adult with ADHD I would agree with the trial and review advice above. If it could help your child I think it would be unfair not to try - my life could have been much easier if I had the right help (including but not limited to medication) as a child.

Two kids both medicated for adhd. What do school say about behaviour? Ours was a last solution. Behavioural stuff has ceased to work. She doesn’t say either way about taking it (other cannot talk) but it does make her more focussed and less manic.