~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This message is from PedTalk! To reply to the group, use "" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In a message dated 97-11-26 15:45:08 EST, writes: > I once had a patient leave my practice because I refused to prescribe > Ritalin to her 3 yo child. > As you well know, we have parents bringing in their child(ren) already > diagnosed with ADHD (by the pre-school teacher, family members, > neighbors, etc.) and demand a prescription for Ritalin. When you start > talking about "correctly" diagnosing and evaluating their child for ADHD > and other potential problems, they just roll their eyes and get angy. > What are we to do? I've had that situation come up, too. I told the parents that their child may, indeed, have ADHD, but I really couldn't tell for sure at that time. And yes, he may eventually need medication, but the PDR says that Ritalin should not be used under age 6. As far as the older kids that were diagnosed by teachers, friends and family members, I evaluate the child and give the parents my opinion, along with a brief lesson on ADHD. I think that's all we can do. If they don't trust our medical judgement, maybe it's better that they do find another doctor. Moshe Adler, MD