Do my parents need a medical power of attorney?

[dzneprincess]

My kids will be spending 2 months with my parents in CO this summer. I am in GA. My mom insists that they need a medical power of attorney in case of an emergency? Is this true? In the past, whenever leaving kids wit my IL's I have just left their INSURANCE card with them in case of emergency.

If this is true, how the heck do I go about getting one?

 

[justmestace]

I do this every time I leave my kids...even if it is just for a weekend.
All I do is type up a paper with the kids full names, date of birth, height, weight, drug allergies (or lack of)...anything I think a doctor might need that I may be the only one who knows the answer.
I put down the dates I will be gone, where I am, and can be reached. I let them know that my parents (or whoever) have the power to act in my place in the event of an emergency, and also that I will be held responsible for any bills not covered by insurance.
I direct the letter to any Hospital, Doctor, Clinic,or Medical Transport.
Better to be safe than sorry. I would have it notorized if I were going out of the country, or going to be gone for an extended amount of time.....2 weeks or more.
Hope this helps.
Stacey

 

[chell]

When my nieces and nephew came to stay with me for any length of time we had a form similar to whatjustmestace described, but we had it notarized.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

YES YES YES!!!

My family hit a snag with the legal aspect of the medical field when i needed unexpected surgery at school so I definitely say yes.

 

[Mskanga]

YES!!!
It's only a piece of paper that can save your kids lives and lots of headaches if the need should arise.

 

[Pembo]

I had a piece of paper notarized that gave my parents permission to take my kids for medical treatment. Just in case.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My pediatrician has a form for that purpose. Maybe yours has one as well?

 

[Microcell]

I would check with your pediatrician. It seems excessive to give POA to parents that means they could do anything, like get a wart removed or an elective surgery, which probably wouldn't happen, but it does give carte blanche. If you do, I would check to be sure they believe like you about life and death matters, like using aggressive methods to save the child, life support options etc...

 

[dzneprincess]

Thanks y'all. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. It sounds like it can just be a note from stating that they have the ok. It does not need to be anything formal huh?

 

[PamOKW]

I think there could be more involved here. I think it is an excellent idea to be sure you have a medical history (allergies, current medication, etc.) that you give to someone who will have responsibility for your children in an out-of-town situation. It may also be that a personal piece of paper and/or a notorized piece of paper may be sufficient in some circumstances -- child has an earache and the doctor is reluctant to treat. However, I don't think any hospital will accept that as authority in case of a real life or death decision. If there were a car accident and decisions regarding life support etc., had to be made, they aren't going to base those decisions on a piece of paper that has is not a real medical power of attorney. What your mother is talking about is a document that an attorney can draw up. It will detail your wishes for things like life support, etc. and will name your Mom and/or Dad or anyone else you designate to make those decisions. With the new privacy laws in place, I'm not even sure that your mother would be given any information from a hospital unless she had such a document to present to them.

 

[KimRaye]

I think the pediatrician's office is a great suggestion to start with.

How old are your kids? Maybe you could doctor-up (haha) the medical part of a field trip form?

Hope it's never needed!!