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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to report this GP? and if so how best to address it?

51 replies

nellieloula · 10/10/2008 07:06

I took my otherwise healthy DD (11 months) to see a locum GP yesterday cause she has had what seems like a permanent cold for months (probably picked up from her big brother I know, but it has gone on for ever) I was concerned that we were over medicating cause she needs nurofen/medised to settle at night and I'm reluctant to keep pouring it down her throat!

Anyway, the upshot of this was that he explained she would always have this problem due to her 'flat nose' - it is slightly flat at the bridge, but then so was DS's until he grew up a bit. Wasn't worried about that until he went on to clarify that 'this is one of her mongoloid features'

I was pretty stunned. Mostly at his choice of expression, quickly followed with a massive array of 'oh my god, have I totally missed something here' doubts. I haven't - and I'm sure if she was on the down's spectrum it would been picked up anyway. that however isn't my concern to be honest - it was his statement of fact.

I left, really not knowing what to say, and am now absolutely furious. But not sure how to further it - or indeed if there is any point???? I was thinking of going to see my GP so at least they know what kind of rubbish he's coming out with......any thoughts? AIBU???

OP posts:

childrenofthecornsilk · 10/10/2008 07:18

what did you say? Did you ask him what he meant?

Original poster

nellieloula · 10/10/2008 07:22

No. Stupid I know. I was too shocked - and DD was crying and I just wanted to get out of there. Can't believe I didn't say anything.

OP posts:

childrenofthecornsilk · 10/10/2008 07:24

do you think he could have his notes mixed up with another patient? I would ring this morning and ask for an explanation.

anyfucker · 10/10/2008 07:25

what???

does your dd have Downs syndrome or not??

and at that term "Mongoloid"

I don't understand

Original poster

nellieloula · 10/10/2008 07:28

no she doesn't have downs. he just looked at her and decided she does I think. Not altogether sure.

OP posts:

anyfucker · 10/10/2008 07:32

bloody hell

I think you need to make another appt and speak to him about this. Ask him what he meant by those comments and if he truly has genuine concerns about your dd.

He needs to be aware that he has upset you.

unfitmother · 10/10/2008 07:36

There should be a Practice Manager you can speak to.

Original poster

nellieloula · 10/10/2008 07:40

Yes I think there is - he's not in again for a while I think; he was only covering the main GP whilst she was away for the day. I think I'll speak to our GP in the first instance as she knows us and the kids...and it's her practice so she should be aware of who is saying what etc. The whole thing has just left me feeling really crap.

OP posts:

PerkinWarbeck · 10/10/2008 07:40

rather than the practice manager, i would be tempted to write to one of the partner GPs. The practice manager is more od an administrative role, whereas the partner GPs will be involved in the hiring of locums.

PerkinWarbeck · 10/10/2008 07:41

x-posted!

christywhisty · 10/10/2008 08:16

He probably wasn't talking about Downs at all, just that her features were similar to the Mongol race ie flat nose etc.

StewieGriffinsMom · 10/10/2008 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

christywhisty · 10/10/2008 08:29

No it doesn't have racist implications , it a correct description for a description of racial features.

monkeymonkeymonkey · 10/10/2008 09:15

I wouldnt call it racist, it is a scientific term, though perhaps a bit outdated.

I think that you are entitled to ask what he meant by this - did he get your DD confused with someone else?

Down syndrome isnt a spectrum in the way that autistic spectrum disorders are - yes there is a range in the degree of impairment that people have, but its is unlikely that you would get to 11 months thinking everything was normal and then suddenly have someone point it out.

Probably just a poor choice of expression from the GP.

MrsMattie · 10/10/2008 09:19

Mongoloid, Negroid and Caucasian - extremely outdated racial decsriptions and offensive to many.

What on earth did he mean? I would be very miffed.

ilovemydog · 10/10/2008 09:22

At 11 months, you almost certainly would have been told if your DD has Down's Syndrome!

Sounds like he got it wrong - his observation and diplomatic skills are zero.

exasperatedmummy · 10/10/2008 09:24

I would have been upset by this too. I am just wondering though if this is a term that might be used to describe a certain nose shape, eye shape, whatever. Regardless of Downs syndrome and/or reference to Mongol people. Much in the same way as a Roman nose would be, certain physical attributes being attributed to geography maybe. I think some people look french/Spanish etc. My DP has a chinese look about him, not in the eyes, he just does. Medics often use the "correct" terminology i guess, as apposed to the everyday words - could it be this? I really don't know - either that or he was completely thoughtless and needs picking up on his tact!

I used to have problems with "snot" as a child, due to the apparent small bridge on my nose. I have a PERFECT nose if you ask me - lol. I ended up having my adenoids removed, along with half of the child population at the time

brimfull · 10/10/2008 09:26

I doubt he was suggesting your dd had downs syndrome,merely describing her nose shape .

Marina · 10/10/2008 09:27

As ChristyWhisty said, it is a very outdated medical term that should no longer be used by practitioners, because it has acquired other, offensive connotations these days.
This must have been very upsetting nellieloula. I have never forgotten an older GP at my practice enquiring after my health during a routine follow-up of the premature stillbirth of ds2, and asking if the tests on the "product of spontaneous abortion" were complete. We had sent ds2 for a postmortem. I felt like I'd been slapped.
You mention this doctor is a locum. Is it at all possible that he trained abroad, and is therefore using unfamiliar terminology acquired from a medical education using different, less up to date language and resources?
I would definitely raise it with the practice, if only so that the GP in question can be better briefed in future.

monkeymonkeymonkey · 10/10/2008 09:34

marina
"product of spontaneous abortion"

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 10/10/2008 09:36

"Down syndrome isnt a spectrum in the way that autistic spectrum disorders are"

Actually it can be. I've recently met someone with DS doing an awful lot of GCSE's. I know other children with DS who are more affected. If a child had mosaic DS then it can be harder to spot because they can have fewer features.

I would go back and see your regular GP, explain what was said and ask what he or she thinks was meant. He may have been using it as a descriptive term. Some children have epicanthal folds which can be a feature of DS (or may just occur) or he may have made a mistake, may have mixed up notes or something.

Must have been a shock, but I think you'll have to find out what was meant then approach any complaint from there.

Marina · 10/10/2008 09:38

Nice, wasn't it monkey
This was six years ago pretty much this week, come to think of it, and I can still remember how wretched I felt. So I can imagine the cold horror nellie might have experienced - but my GP was in the middle of an otherwise very caring and thorough return to work chat when this popped out.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 10/10/2008 09:41

Was he old btw? A locum GP (ancient- and I left his practice 30 years ago because my mum thought he was crap ) told me that autism is a 'terrible affliction, terrible, terrible. awful' (me having mentioned that ds1 has it) which was a bit odd but went on to say "girl's can't get it of course". I almost fell off my chair (before trying to correct him).

monkeymonkeymonkey · 10/10/2008 09:44

Jimjam

I agree that mosaicism can alter the severity of the way that Down syndrome presents, but it isnt usually described as being a spectrum type disorder.

Marina · 10/10/2008 09:44

"Girls can't "get it" of course"

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