Did you write up something about giving the person medical decision making in an emergency? We are going away for a long weekend and leaving LO with my parents. My mom said when she traveled for work when I was a kid she always wrote something up for the people I was staying with that they could make emergency consent for medical treatment.Anyone know what the legal requirements for this?
Re: Need Advice:If you've ever left your children with someone when you went on vacation
I can't remember who, but one mom on this board created a binder when she went away. Included in the binder was a letter authorizing the babysitter to ok medical procedures.
In an emergency I think your LO would get the help he or she needs but I think if it was something more random, like ear infection, they might need consent for treatment - although I'm just guessing on this.
I think it can't hurt.
This exactly. It is nice to have something for non emergent issues as treatment for ear infection, etc if you can not be reached by phone. In an emergency, hospital staff can make the decision to treat. So, to answer your question, you do not need to write anything up.
Not that we were really on vacay just really busy and since we didnt have child care where we lived we've sent the boys up to my mom's. After DS2 was born DS1 speant 2 weeks with my mom....which made me sad but I mean there was the time we were in the hospital and then with the level 4 tear I wasn't moving around well at all!
There were times previously that I've sent him with written permision for her to seek medical treatment on our behalf but one time I didn't get around to it and DS1 fell off my mom's bed and smacked his head really hard on her night stand. She took him to the hospital without any paperwork.
I think it depends on where they would take your child. For instance my mom took DS2 to an urgent care when he had a fever and was fussy one weekend and it turned out to be an ear infection....the urgent care called and asked my permision. When my mom took DS1 to the ER the time she mentioned before he was treated without any need of a written notice or phone call to me. Although I was standing by the phone waiting.
If your parents live near you, I know you can designate who is permitted to take your child to an apointment other then yourself and a spouse. I've talked to a woman in the waiting room at our pedi's office who was the child's nanny!
I didn't go on vacation, but my MIL took the older three upstate. I thought about writing the letter, and enclosing a copy of their medical cards, but I didn't (what could happen just hanging out in a house upstate right?!). Guess what... DS2 was bitten by a spider and had to be taken to the emergency room. I had to scramble to find his card and fax over an authorization form for my MIL to be able to sign consent forms. I don't know if this varies by state or not (I'm in NY), but my kids won't be going anywhere without a letter and copy of their medical card anymore!
We haven't gone out of the country, but when DH and I took a weekend trip (just 2 nights) to another part of the country, I just left DD's medical insurance card with my mom. I didn't even think of writing anything up. If anything happened and parental consent was needed, we were a phone call away. If she needed a life saving procedure, I'm sure they wouldn't deny it just bc werent there in person.
I have a letter that lists all people that I give my permission to make any medical decisions for Bay in her diaper bag. On the letter I state any person not on this list should obtain permission from either me, DH or either grandparents and listed all the phone numbers. I also have a copy of her medical card. I just want to be safe in case some place or hospital staff would hold up medical attention because of this. What if it is an emergency. I dont know, its probably a little over kill but I would rather have the over kill then my baby not get what she needs as quickly as possible.
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I did for my dad when he had to take Audrey to her 9 month check-up. When we go away in February for a ski trip, I will probably do the same for my ILs as they will be watching Audrey.
When I did it for my dad, it was pretty informal. Just a hand-written note that I signed for him to give to the doctor.
are your parents local? i'm guessing they would be calling your pedi for anything like a fever ect? i would call the pedi office and let them know that the grandparents are temp watching the kids as well as writting a note.