The Consequences of Physicians Treating Their Children

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The Consequences of Physicians Treating their Children
Is it advisable for doctors to treat themselves and immediate family members? In particular, this argument is controversial and some people might say that physicians should not treat themselves and those close to them. One of the primary advantages that emanate from doctors treating those they love is that they reduce medical costs and visitations to the hospital. In contrast, being so emotional might hinder healthcare providers from treating their immediate family members to make proper clinical decisions. In Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, the main character, Madeline, has been diagnosed with a rare disorder called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID). However, Madeline’s mother, Dr. Pauline Whittier, is a professional doctor who is ready to take care of her daughter. She employs a nurse, Carla, to take care of Madeline by ensuring that all the medical requirements are met to promote the well-being of her sick daughter. Nevertheless, as the novel enrolls, it is clear that Dr. Whittier’s attachment issue contributed to diagnosing Madeline with SCID to limit her freedom and micromanage every aspect of the child’s life.
The primary danger of physicians practicing on themselves or their immediate families is limiting the freedom of the ill individual. The scenario at hand involves a mother and a daughter. The mother is so attached to her daughter such that she wants her to remain within reach. Dr. Whittier uses her medical professional knowledge and skills and convinces Madeline that her long-term factitious disease is life-threatening and requires strict precaution if one has to survive. Since Madeline is very young at the time her mother diagnoses her with SCID, she does not ask any questions to determine the accuracy of the doctor’s guidelines. Instead, she adheres to the established medical requirements, which include sacrificing her freedom. The SCID is dangerous and can be triggered by various things, including food, drinks, chemicals present in cleaners, and other substances that people come across in life (Yoon 15). As such, Madeline is made to believe that she is allergic to the world and the only safe place for her is her house. Besides, her house is well set up and has everything that the doctor and patient need to improve the well-being of the latter. For instance, Carla is instructed by Dr. Whittier to take the patient’s vitals frequently to determine any minor changes and recommend the best treatment strategy to handle the symptom.
Dr. Whittier appears to have made the calculated decision of diagnosing Madeline with a factitious illness so that she can fully control her freedom, particularly in forming long-term relationships. She tells her daughter how SCID is life-threatening and that the only way to survive is to live indoors and never leave the house since breathing contaminated air outside might be a trigger. Madeline grows up believing that she is allergic to the world, meaning that she cannot even step outside to walk or interact with a friend. Since she is committed to her mother’s clinical advice, she indulges in reading novels to keep herself busy. Everything that she touches is sterilized to avoid contracting any disease. Dr. Whittier’s objective is met to limit Madeline’s movements since she is constrained in her house with only her books to read and Carla to talk to when she becomes lonely. For sure, based on what Madeline is going through under the care of her mother, it would have been good if physicians are not allowed to treat their children. That practice might obscure the doctor’s judgment, lead to irresolution, and produce timidity (Puma et al. 1292). For instance, Madeline’s mother had ruled out the significance and possibility of her daughter’s social life. Any child can grow well mentally and physically if she is allowed to interact with other people and her surroundings. However, this is the opposite case for Madeline. The only way she learns what is happening in the world is by reading novels, but she has no real experience since she cannot leave her house.
Dr. Whittier has a factitious disorder that makes her believe that her daughter has SCID. She fears losing Madeline, which explains why she diagnosed her with SCID to control every aspect of her life and prevent everything that might contribute to diseases. Since Madeline’s mother is a doctor, she believes that the best way to raise her child is by eliminating all things that might cause illnesses. That is why she settles on SCID since it is a health condition that can be triggered by various things, including breathing contaminated air and touching objects. In other words, a person with SCID is vulnerable to sickness and death for coming in contact with substances that do not cause infections or illnesses in ordinary people. Dr. Whittier diagnosed her daughter with SCID so that she can manipulate her life, including what she does and who she interacts with. She cannot bear losing her daughter, which is why SCID allows her to practice extra caution by keeping her daughter hidden from the outside world.
Although Madeline does not understand since she was young at the time she was diagnosed with SCID, her mother did it to limit her from forming relationships with others. Notably, “her mother bans Madeline to have any relationship with other people” (Rahayu and Wulan 82). Additionally, Madeline is prohibited from loving Olly, and Dr. Whittier does everything to avoid her daughter from interacting with new individuals due to her life-threatening disease. In reality, Madeline’s mother is very unfair to think that her daughter can grow without interacting with the world. Being a medical professional, she is supposed to be among those who understand the importance of social life in the growth and development process of a child. However, Dr. Whittier’s attachment problem makes her believe that she is making the best clinical decisions for her daughter despite knowing that Madeline did not have SCID.  
Dr. Whittier should have understood and established boundaries between her professional life and parenthood. She was required to be a mother when at home and hold her healthcare provider’s responsibilities when at work. The quality of a parent-child relationship is crucial in helping the young person to grow and develop well physically and mentally (Nomaguchi 492). For instance, Madeline required love from her mother regardless of whether she had SCID or not. Dr. Whittier appears to take the advantage of her sick daughter by restricting her from interacting and socializing with other individuals, particularly her age mates. As a mother, she should have shown love to Madeline and guided her on how she should grow to become a responsible adult. However, as portrayed by Yoon, Dr. Whittier acted as a doctor even when interacting with her sick daughter. When talking about relationships, the physician remained professional instead of discussing how Madeline should form and sustain proper relationships to help her overcome numerous thoughts that might arise from loneliness. Dr. Whittier’s primary motive that made her remain professional when interacting with her daughter was to cement Madeline’s belief that she was severely sick and that her mother was doing everything to save her life and foster her well-being.
Although Dr. Whittier perceived herself as a professional doctor, her conflict of interest to control Madeline’s life contributed to her irrational clinical decisions. As a physician, it was within her duty to ensure that her patient complied with all the medical procedures to promote her well-being. Nevertheless, she was not required to rule out the fact that her daughter needed company since humans are social creatures who cannot survive on their own. People need others to share experiences, thoughts, exchange ideas, and interact. That way, they avoid stress and understand various aspects of life. Dr. Whittier thought that controlling Madeline was the only way to avoid losing her, which was a misleading and selfish decision. Even after her daughter was diagnosed with SCID, Madeline had the right to freedom of expression and socialization without any limitations. That reflects the point that doctors should not be allowed to treat their children since they might be irrational due to their emotional baggage, particularly due to the thought tha...