Legal Question in Family Law in California

Re: Joint Physical Custody of a child -parents live far from each other

Joint physical custody implies she spends 50% of her time living with you and 50% with him. That seems impractical, given the distance. Is that really what's happening? Maybe he's really asking for joint legal custody, which means you'd both participate in making medical, educational, and "big issue" decisions together. I don't think that a doctor would give you a hard time for treating her for a common cold with joint legal custody, but maybe you'd need both signatures if she needed non-emergency surgery. Would your ex really withhold his consent for necessary surgery or medical treatment? Surely he would not, right? If he would withhold consent for treatment for reasons other than a legitimate medical treatment issue, I wouldn't suggest joint custody!