Why Healthcare Systems Still Default to Mothers: A New Push for Dads
Lithuania is set to host a major public debate on May 14, 2026, addressing a persistent imbalance in family healthcare: the tendency for medical systems to treat mothers as the primary point of contact, despite legal frameworks mandating equal parental responsibility. The upcoming discussion, titled “Child’s health – responsibility of both parents: how can the health system involve fathers more?”, aims to tackle the systemic barriers that keep fathers on the periphery of their children’s medical journeys.
While Lithuanian law dictates that both parents are equally responsible for a child’s health, practitioners note that the burden of coordination, communication with specialists, and medical decision-making still falls disproportionately on mothers. This phenomenon is not unique to the Baltic region; it reflects a broader European struggle to modernize healthcare communication models that have historically been centered around the maternal figure.
The Disconnect Between Legal Equality and Clinical Practice
Experts participating in the upcoming forum argue that the current situation is rooted in a combination of persistent societal stereotypes and entrenched healthcare practices. From the way appointment reminders are sent to the physical layout of pediatric wards, the system often implicitly signals that the mother is the primary caregiver. This creates a cycle where fathers may feel less confident or less welcome in medical settings, further reinforcing the mother’s role as the “default” parent.
In Lithuania, this disconnect is particularly visible in how specialists communicate with families. Doctors often find themselves defaulting to the mother for medical histories or follow-up instructions, even when the father is present in the room. The discussion will explore how these daily decisions in medical institutions can be restructured to actively invite and validate paternal involvement, ensuring that healthcare becomes a shared parental project rather than a maternal obligation.
Systemic Barriers and Unconscious Gender Bias
One of the critical themes of the discussion will be the impact of involuntary gender bias among healthcare professionals. Even well-intentioned pediatricians and nurses can fall into communication patterns that sideline fathers. This bias can manifest in subtle ways, such as addressing all clinical questions to the mother or assuming the father is merely providing transportation rather than participating in the care plan.
By examining these communication models, the forum aims to provide healthcare providers with practical tools to break these habits. The goal is to shift the institutional culture toward a more inclusive “family-centered care” model. This transition is seen as essential not only for gender equality but for the overall health outcomes of the child, as active involvement from both parents provides a more robust support system and a wider range of perspectives on the child’s well-being.
Addressing Chronic Illness and Disability Care
The stakes are even higher in families where a child has a disability or a chronic illness. The complexity of managing long-term care requires a level of coordination that can be overwhelming for a single parent. The project “Together Stronger: Dads’ Contribution to Child Health and Disability Care,” which is funding this initiative, specifically highlights the need for fathers to be fully integrated into the specialized care networks required for these children.
When a child has special needs, the healthcare system’s failure to involve fathers can lead to increased stress on the maternal parent and a sense of isolation for the paternal parent. The upcoming discussion will feature insights from health policy experts and representatives of public initiatives who are working to ensure that the healthcare system supports the entire family unit in these high-pressure scenarios.
Public Forum for Systemic Reform
The event will bring together a diverse panel, including pediatricians, healthcare specialists, health policy experts, and NGO representatives. Moderated by Andrejus Rudanovas, a life sciences law expert and partner at the European Life Science & Knowledge Institute, the discussion will focus on practical and systemic solutions rather than just theoretical debate.
Scheduled for May 14, 2026, from 15:00 to 16:30, the event will take place at the Mykolas Romeris University Science and Innovation Center in Vilnius. Recognizing the international relevance of the topic, the organizers are offering both in-person attendance and a remote broadcast. Registration is mandatory for all participants to facilitate a structured dialogue on how to reform the healthcare system into one that truly recognizes and supports the role of both parents.
Source: BNS
