Are you the one parent who doesn’t want to medicate?

When divorced parents have a child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and only one parent believes that medication is in the child’s best interest, it becomes a power struggle.  The retaliatory behavior of one parent can lead to a child not getting treatment.  Parents are under the impression that if one of them says “No” to treatment, then that’s it.  An ex-parte procedure can be requested whereby they go into court, give the judge the diagnostic report and ask that their child be treated for the condition.  It would be best if there was also a letter from a child psychiatrist confirming the diagnosis and stating that they are willing to treat the child and work with both parents.  If one parent refused to participate in the assessment, be prepared to show proof.  I testified about my assessments that led to an ADHD diagnosis and in each case, the judge approved treatment.