Consent to Medical Treatment

Little O that's a really good point.

I know where DH works, if a child is hurt they try and call a parent first. As a parent, if my child had a broken bone and I was not nearby, I would not want my child to suffer if they had to wait til I got there.
Schools do not call ambulances unless it is really necessary.
Accidents can easily happen where ever you are, school, childcare, parks, at other peoples houses etc.
A couple of years ago we had to call an ambulance as a child had had an accident, broke his arm in a few places, in the park and no parent was nearby. The ambulance arrived before the parent and she was thankful.
Make sure you have ambulance cover and if one is called and your child is not taken or is taken to hospital you will not be charged.
I would prefer that the organisation who was looking after my child was concerned enough to call an ambulance rather than do nothing and watch a child suffer.

Due to the amount of suing that happens, care providers have to be careful. Most are not even allowed to put a bandaid on a child. Most have training in many areas of firstaid and for other illnesses that children have.

If you are concerned, go and talk to the head. They will be able to clarify any concerns you have.

I'm finding this whole conversation kind of incredible. In the kind of serious accident that we all hope won't befall our children minutes can make the difference between life and death. If my children received a serious head injury at school I would be utterly ropable if they were busy calling me not an ambulance.
If I didn't trust a school to behave appropriately in the case of a medical emergency I wouldn't send my children there. If you don't trust anyone else with your children's welfare and can't bring yourself to sign the forms that allow them to act as they need to if your child is ill or injured then possibly you should try home schooling.

I am with Zazou on this one. I also find it quite incredulous that you would even think about NOT signing the form. I understand that we all have different beliefs and standards but at the end of the day if my child required medical treatment when I am not there I want them to be given it. No waiting around for me, who knows what could happen in the meantime.

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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.

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Must say thank you Limeslice for actually addressing the OP concerns rather than some others that have alluded that she is a parent who doesn't care about her child and would put her child at risk over signing a form. I believe the OP has had issues with having her rights abused while in hospital by trusted medical professionals and as such the legalities of a form like this would be more of an issue for her than others like myself, it doesn't make her concerns any less valid and shouldn't be dismissed or mocked.
Bellybelly is meant to be a place where you can come to ask questions or voice concerns and not be made to feel silly for asking.
Next time perhaps those who rolled their eyes when reading the OP could perhaps offer their advice or how they understood the form was worded rather than make someone feel small for asking a question that was important to them.