https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:01:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1220657 Sat, 16 Nov 2013 07:40:45 +0000 808love 1220657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a long-time friend who is a physician. He doesn't want friends as patients. I tried to sway him but he remains adamant that it may affect the friendship. I am glad he kept his boundaries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219735 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 15:19:17 +0000 BadgerMom 1219735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: and @misolee: That's a good point that I hadn't really thought of. We are close and I treat his kids like they are my own so I would assume he would do the same and that is a HUGE plus when it comes to a doctor for your child.</p> <p>I'm a little distrustful of doctors. Sometimes I worry if they're just repeating the party line, or the drug rep just got done giving them free lunch on the medication they're prescribing. This would eliminate a lot of those thoughts from crossing my mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219643 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:49:41 +0000 misolee 1219643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also have a family + friend whose a family physician. Love the word, "framily" bc seriously he's like family. He also lives across town so he knows that it's better for me to go to a local pediatrician. (srsly...his office is like 45 minutes away). </p> <p>On the other hand, he's been a huge help when I need like a 2nd opinion or clarifying questions about LO's care. Since I know he cares for my LO like his own children, I trust his opinion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219601 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:34:03 +0000 MamaMoose 1219601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not use him. If you are that close that you are essentially family he would probably prefer you didn't use him. I would ask him for a referral. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219589 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:31:04 +0000 hilsy85 1219589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally would LOVE that--I already pepper all our doctor friends with questions about LO, and I feel like a friend-doctor would be more straightforward with us. But like others have said, nothing wrong with asking for a rec! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219574 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:25:25 +0000 Mae 1219574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would use him for sure. My biggest concern with doctors is them being too busy and treating me/my child as a patient rather than a person. I feel like seeing this guy would ensure you get the very BEST treatment like he'd give to his own children. You'd never just be a number. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219571 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 14:23:28 +0000 Honeybee 1219571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my best friends is a pediatrician; if she had a practice, I would totally take my kids to her! She already gives us a lot of great advice and reassurance, when I have questions or I just want to discuss our current pedi's recommendations. I think it would be wonderful to have someone who has a total health view of my children (because she knows about every sniffle and because she sees them in a lot of different situations) taking care of them. On the other hand, my friend is very nonjudgmental and open to each family making the parenting decision that fits them individually; if my friend wasn't so easygoing, I would probably feel more comfortable using someone else.</p> <p>If you're good friends, though, it shouldn't be an issue to just ask for a recommendation. I'm sure he'll understand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219167 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:15:44 +0000 edelweiss 1219167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i'm sure he would understand if you wanted to keep friendship and doctor-patient relationships separate. on one hand i would be so tempted to use him because you know and trust him, but i do understand wanting some arm's length distance in a professional setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219165 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:15:07 +0000 MrsSCB 1219165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Growing up, my husband was friends with my MIL's gynecologist's kids. That seems worse, lol. But that being said, I can understand wanting to keep personal and professional things separate, and I'm sure he'd be understanding if you wanted him to recommend a trusted colleague. Though on the other hand, if he's pretty much the best pediatrician in town, I'd probably want to use him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219148 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:09:57 +0000 tinyperson 1219148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say it's probably ok for now unless you're anticipating disagreements on something. It gets a little more difficult when the child gets older. Your 9 year old probably doesn't want her medical history known by someone your family spends time with. And i think it would get trickier as the child gets even older too... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219128 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:05:02 +0000 Foodnerd81 1219128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a good friend from college who is a pediatrician and I would absolutely use her if she was local (haha but she might not want me to, since then I'd be asking her questions even more than I do now!). But I'm sure he wouldn't be offended if you asked for a referral, I bet that kind of thing happens all the time. I would make sure to say it's because you want to keep the relationship separate, not that you don't want him for some other reason, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1219014 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:31:37 +0000 Alivoo01 1219014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would, but you seem hesitant. Maybe discuss with him that you'd love to use him, but xyz. See what he says? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1218993 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:26:44 +0000 LuLu Mom 1218993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would use him unless he thought it was weird and then I would ask for a referral from him for a trusted colleague! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1218980 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:23:43 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1218980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Given your hesistation I would ask him to recommend a colleague. You clearly value him as a medical professional, yet you just want a personal relationship with him and his family.</p> <p>I wouldn't mind a family friend as a doctor as long as I trusted they would keep my medical history in confidence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/would-you-be-comfortable-with-a-pediatrician-who-is-also-a-family-friend#post-1218956 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:17:49 +0000 BadgerMom 1218956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are really good friends with another family whose husband is a big pediatrician in town. By family friends I mean, I babysat his kids when they were little, his kids (now 13 and 15) still stay with us when the two of them go on trips, we spend Christmas with them, we see them socially on a pretty regular basis, etc. I usually use the term "framily" to describe them.</p> <p>Anyway, I know it's a little early to be worrying about this because I'm not due to June, but I'm afraid of who to choose for a pediatrician. On one hand, I don't want to offend him by choosing someone else, and I do think he is probably one of the best doctors in town and everyone who goes to him loves him. But on the other hand, I've never mixed doctors and friendship before and I don't know if I'm comfortable with a "framily" member knowing my child's whole medical history, and I worry about possible disagreements, etc.</p> <p>Sorry for the book... Do any of you have a pediatrician who is a family member or one that you see socially as well? How would you feel? </p>