PEDIATRICS Vol. 48 No. 6 December 1971, pp. 929
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ON THE CHOICE OF A PHYSICIAN TO CARE FOR CHILDREN

T. E. C. Jr. M.D.

In 1836 Dr. J. Ackerley, who practiced medicine in New York City, published an excellent pamphlet fOr parents' use entitled "The Management of Children in Sickness and in Health." In it Dr. Ackerley offered parents this advice about choosing a physician for their children.

It is important above all things, in choosing a physician, that one should be selected, if time and opportunity permit, in whose skill and integrity we have entire confidence. It is certainly desirable to have gentleness and mildness of manner combined with skill if it can be obtained, particularly . in the treatment of children; but, although we should never countenance coarseness and vulgarity, by allowing it to pass for eccentricity, we should never reject a man because his personal appearance, his manner or his dress, does not exactly accord with any preconceived notions we may have as to perfection in these matters, for they are small matters–small indeed, when compared with the important nature of the business we have in hand for him. We ought to reflect, and never lose sight of the object for which his services are required; we ought never to forget that it is to have the sick made well; we ought to recollect that our child's life is at stake–the child so long wished for, and born in pain and travail–the child on whom we delight to gaze and dote–the child in whom we, perhaps, already perceive our very selves–is in danger of perishing. And can we leave this little suffering, helpless thing to the care of those in whom we have not the fullest confidence? No, we cannot.