Charmaine,
Your story was posted on Lactnet. Here is my response to you:
The receptionist was COMPLETELY out of line. I hope you write a strongly
worded letter of complaint to the doctor or organization that owns the
practice. At the very least, they owe you an apology. If they back the
receptionist, find a new pediatrician immediately and tell the old one why
you left his/her practice. In writing, with a copy to your insurance
company.
Something similar happened to me - long ago, while nursing my 5-month old
son, I had to take my 3-year old daughter to a military hospital clinic to
have her blood drawn. The lab technician wanted me to abandon her while the
procedure was done, which I refused to do. When they first tried to draw her
blood, they botched the procedure. A second person attempted the procedure,
and again failed. By now, naturally, my daughter was howling. The baby had
been asleep in a sling-type carrier through all this, until her crying woke
him and he needed to nurse. Just as I began to nurse him, a third technician
tried to grab my daughter and rush her away to repeat the test in a back
room. I had to literally grab his arm to stop him. At this point, I said
through clenched teeth: "I want the BEST person in this clinic to do the
procedure, and I WILL be with her, and you will WAIT until she calms down
and I finish nursing my baby." Well, they countered with: "Lady, if you
want this test done, you'll do it OUR way." I turned on my heel, grabbed
both children and ran to our car and drove straight home. (Seething all the
way.)
Once I calmed down, I composed a detailed letter to the chief of the lab,
the pediatrician who had ordered the test, and the chief of the entire
pediatric clinic. I quoted their own "patients rights" posters and every
other document that I could find that was relevant. And I asked for what I
wanted as resolution: an apology, a repeat of the test done by their top
technician, staying with my daughter throughout, and scheduling that took
account of both my children's needs. When we finally went back for the test,
I insisted that my husband come with me (IN UNIFORM) to add clout to my
requests. He was furious with the treatment that I had received, and was
quite prepared to pursue the matter up the chain of command. The story has a
happy ending - they assigned a very sensitive and competent technician, the
test went smoothly, and we all "lived" happily ever after. And they never
challenged me staying with a child during a lab procedure again - at least
at that lab.
Remember - you are PAYING these people to perform a service for YOU.
Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre
Dayton, OH USA
http://www.bflrc.com
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