A 4-Year-Old Girl Is Sent to the Emergency Room by Her

A 4-year-old girl is sent to the emergency room by her day care facility because she has a fever, right ear ache, and is vomiting often. A bulging, hazy tympanic membrane is seen on examination, along with erythema, edema, and pain over the right mastoid. A CT scan demonstrates mastoid air cell opacification and bone septal damage. When the patient's parents arrive, they report that the patient has been suffering from recurring episodes of otitis media. The parents, however, refuse antibiotic therapy, arguing that "in our family, we think that natural healing approaches are superior than injecting up our children with drugs." Which of the following responses to the parents' remark is most appropriate?

A) "Can you please tell me what you currently understand about your child's infection?"
B) "Help me understand what natural treatments you are willing to allow."
C) "I understand your concerns about medication side effects, but antibiotic treatment is necessary."
D) "If we don't give your child antibiotics, she could get a brain abscess and die."
E) "We can try natural techniques briefly, but if she doesn't get better, we will have to use antibiotics."