Consent to Medical Treatment

[AnyDream]

I'm not sure why you think they wouldn't need consent for your child to leave the premises with someone other than yourself or a guardian (ie in an ambulance)? Why wouldn't they need consent if it was an emergency?

[HotI]

I'm not sure why you think they wouldn't need consent for your child to leave the premises with someone other than yourself or a guardian (ie in an ambulance)? Why wouldn't they need consent if it was an emergency? uzzled:

i thought they would be covered under something like 'good samaritan act'. if an adult is physically unable to consent (ie unconscious), then an ambulance can transport them (and perform some medical procedures) without gaining consent.

[Astrid]

Have you asked them for clarification? Often these forms are part of legalities and accreditation. They need to ask, but it is pretty rare for them to act on it.

In an emergency I would much rather they call the ambulance, than try to call me or DH first and as care providers I trust them to make that call.

[HotI]

Perhaps if it said "in an emergency" at the end of the statement i wouldn't be questioning it. There is a number to ring to get clarification.

Thanks

[LimeSlice]

Again, the form you are signing is asking consent to SEEK treatment and to allow the child to be TRANSPORTED to said medical treatment.

It is NOT asking your consent for any medical procedures or treatment that the doctor would perform.

There is a difference.

[Eenee]

......

[Floweryfields]

When you start adding in wording such as "in an emergency" that then requires someone to determine what an emergency is. Unfortunately a lot of this stuff is all about what is legal 'jargon'.
The other thing is, it won't always be an emergency when medical treatment is needed - any injury that you bandage, etc is needing medical treatment.

ETA to say I agree with LS's last comment.

[HotI]

LS, I started to respond to your first post, but then couldn't explain myself. I don't quite understand what the difference is. The wording is seek transportation and seek treatment - if seeking transportation means that the child can be transported, how does seek treatment not mean that the child can be treated?

[Doing my best]

I was quoting a now deleted post, but I wasn't being offensive, but rather asking a genuine question as to what treatments you think they will seek? It has never crossed my mind that someone in a position of authority we have entrusted to care for children would go and do something against our wishes that would warrant me not feeling comfortable to sign a form stating they can seek medical treatments. But I must be either very trusting, or very naive to the real world if there are reasons people are hesitant to sign these forms.

[LimeSlice]

Because there is not a doctor on site - they need permission to CALL for help. You are acknowledging that the qualified carer in the room is not a medical professional and not in a position to decide for him/herself the correct measures to take. You are removing the burden from them and the centre, and allowing them to call for competent medical advice and attention.

Seeking transportation simply means that you authorise them to take your child from the centre - not with one of your approved contacts - and also covers the cost of the ambulance transfer if one is called.

Once your child gets to the hospital, there is an entirely different set of rules covering how the doctors are allowed to behave - they need permission to perform most medical procedures on a minor, except in emergency situations, but even then they will need your consent in some cases. If you are not available, there are guidelines in place that allow the doctors to override your absence of consent. This has nothing to do with the centre, or its staff.

So, as pedantic as it sounds, there is an actual difference in effect once the word 'seek' is added to the sentence. Seeking treatment defers the responsibility of the medical decisions to those who are capable of making them - you and health care professionals.

[AnyDream]

I think the consent is less about what the ambulance/doctor/hospital can do, and more about whether the childcare centre is allowed to initiate the seeking of the ambulance/doctor/hospital on behalf of the child's parent/guardian in your absence.

I for one have had the occasional situation where the carer/school were not able to contact me immediately, (but thankfully never any dire emergency). I would not want the centre to be waiting until they have spoken to me to decide to call an ambulance if an ambulance was needed straight away. I sign the consent.