We encourage and prefer that you, the parent or legal guardian, bring your child to all appointments with the pediatrician. You know the most about your child and this knowledge may be crucial for the pediatrician to deliver the best care possible. It is for this reason that patients less than 18 years old MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to all Health Supervision Visits (annual physicals), developmental-behavioral appointments, and immunization administrations. Patients less than 18 years old may be seen for sick visits only if they are accompanied by a responsible adult (i.e. nanny, grandparent, older sibling, etc) and a parent/legal guardian has signed a “Consent to Treat” form which is part of the General Pediatrics Registration Packet.
Without parental consent, the pediatrician may refuse to treat your child for anything less than a very serious, life-threatening emergency. If the pediatrician feels that your child’s life is in danger, he or she will provide the necessary medical care without this consent. Additionally, we realize that occasionally our patients’ siblings or friends will be left in the reception area while the patients and parents are visiting with the pediatrician. We ask that all children younger than 8 years old be supervised by an adult while in our reception area. Our office staff is unable to provide such supervision.
