Why would a teacher contradict a physician's advice?

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   bethperryposted 9 years ago

   Why would a teacher contradict a physician's advice?
   
   Last year my child (16 years of age) was diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency. His physician instructed me to get him outside for at least twenty minutes a day for sunshine and without sunscreen in order to get his vitamin D built back up. However, one of his teachers, when she heard of this, told me that sending a child outside without sun screen was tantamount to abuse. I chose to follow the doctor's orders and my son recuperated from his deficiency. I didn't hear anything else from the worried teacher, however I have to wonder why a teacher would even think to contradict a doctor's advice?

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2. 71

   manatita44posted 9 years ago

   Ultimately the call was yours and you followed the doctor's advice. You say that she was 'worried.' Perhaps she felt concerned. The sun can sometimes affect us in negative ways, depending on exposure. It can also be too little, sometimes, depending on the season and its strength. All this has been documented and can also be found on social media.
   
   Hundreds of cases have been documented where doctors were wrong. I would generally go with his/her advice but with logic, that is to say, the thing given or prescribed, should appear to make sense. More and more people are reading up on their conditions and challenging doctors.
   
   Please don't do this unless you have to, but I'm saying that it is sometimes healthy to think and even to have a second opinion if you are concerned.
   
   Ultimately, there is value in complimentary as well as allopathic medicine, and like religion, one should leave many windows in the heart.
   
   You can always ask the teachers view or reasons. I would say though, that vit D is proving more and more to be a really essential vitamin, and for many, supplementation in the winter is a good idea. Post consultation and a blood test with the doctor, of course, and the age and history of the individual. Good morning and have a great Sunday!

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Manaitita44, and you're right about second opinions - sometimes they need to be sought out. Fortunately, with my son, we could see improvement in just a few days of following the doctor's advice, so had no reason to question it.

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      manatita44posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Cool. Logical and rational. In most cases, that's all that's needed. Love to your son and family.

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   bjspivey-riversposted 9 years ago

   People have opinions and sometimes one person may disagree with another.  There has been a lot of media information on the usefulness of sunscreen.  In fact some researchers think the heavy use of sunscreen is associated with some vitamin D deficiency.  On one hand we want to protect against skin cancer.  On the other hand low vitamin D which can come from lack of sun exposure is the risk one takes from blocking sun with sunscreen all the time.  The teacher was voicing an opinion without knowing all the facts of your situation.  This is actually a common occurrence.  Media offers up a lot of information, not all of it is completely correct but people accept it as fact.  There hasn't been as much information in the media about vitamin D deficiency so the teacher may not have been as informed about this condition.  Fortunately, you can do your own research if you like and make your own decision.  Doctors don't know everything.  Neither do teachers.  However, I would be more inclined to follow the advice of someone who is trained in healthcare about a health matter than I would follow an untrained person just voicing an opinion.

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Very reasonable, bjspivey-rivers, and thank you for commenting!

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   LoisRyan13903posted 9 years ago

   Wow @that teacher!  As I kid I was always outside without sunscreen on.  But maybe she was concerned say if you son is fair skinned and get sun-burned a lot.  But I have heard that too that being out in the sun brings up Vitamin D.  She should have kept her mouth shut unless if she had any other ideas such as supplements and maybe home remedies.

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Lois,I think it was her words that shocked me the most. I am glad when teachers are concerned about the welfare of their students, but to suggest following a doctor's treatment is child abuse does seem reactionary. Thanks for your input!

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      LoisRyan13903posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Know your son's vit D is back up, but a lot of fish such as salmon and herring contain Vit D

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   The Examiner-1posted 9 years ago

   All that I can think of is that the teacher read about either the vitamin D, or the sun screen, and thinks they know more than the doctor.
   Maybe the teacher follows a certain type of medicine which does not believe in doctors, and she/he automatically speaks to others from those views.

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Kevin, I hadn't thought of that before but you could be right.

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   teaches12345posted 9 years ago

   Teachers may believe a Doctor's recommendation is wrong but would never contradict the treatment advice or disagree to follow through on the administration of it. There are liability issues to be faced when a teacher doesn't follow a child's medical plan or treatment. I am sorry your child  experienced. I hope the school dealt with the teacher accordingly.

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      bethperryposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you teaches12345. I don't know if they did or not; at the time I was too concerned about my son to report it.

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