What do you do if your parents don't take you to the doctor when you are sick?

If it is a one-day minor sickness, there is probably little or nothing you can do. However, if you feel sick day after day, and your parents do not believe you, there are several things you can do. There are a few different ways to approach this, so you could try them one at a time or all at once.

If your school has a school nurse, you can go to the school nurse and explain your problem. Many communities have free clinics, and the school nurse could possibly arrange for you to be seen by a health provider at one of those or call your parents and explain that you seem to have a real health problem.

You could go to a school counselor and explain what is going on. This could possibly entail a call to a social service agency or maybe a visit to a local clinic. Or the counselor could send you to the school nurse or call your parents.

Sometimes communities have youth service agencies which offer confidential counseling and possibly health services to young people. You could contact them and have them help you figure out what to do.

Larger hospitals often have a program which allows you to call and speak to a nurse for free. You could call and ask the nurse what to do.

If there are any other adults (other than your parents) in your family who are easy to talk to, you could speak to one of them about this problem and ask them to help you.

If you have a family doctor, you could tell the doctor. If your mom usually goes into the examination room with you, tell the nurse when he or she weighs you that you need to speak to the doctor confidentially or secretly. The nurse is accustomed to young people wanting to go to the doctor alone and can arrange this.

If none of this works try to speak to your parents sincerely and honestly. Tell them as unemotionally as you can that you have not been feeling well for some time. Give your symptoms. Tell how long this has been going on. Ask to see a doctor. At this point, if they refuse to allow you to see a doctor or get medical help, they are possibly guilty of neglecting you. You can call social services on your own and ask for help.

At any time, if you feel unsafe or that you are in danger, call 911 and ask for help.