Medical Authorization Letter?

[kasar]

We're leaving our two DDs in their grandmother's care for the weekend. I've put together a letter in case they need emergency treatment and I'm wondering if there's anything I need to put in it. I won't have time to have it notorized before I go which I really should have but here's the gist:

To Whom It May Concern:

In our absence, the following people have permission to seek medical care for _______________ and ______________:

(then I've listed both my parents and my two sisters)

My DH and I have both signed it.

Their Pediatrician and our HMO number are both on the sheet as well.

Is that all we need? Has anyone ever actually used one of these and if so, was it accepted easily? Thanks for the help.

 

[luvflorida]

I would also leave their HMO or insurance cards with the Grandparents. Whenever we've taken any of our children's friends with us on trips, or whenever any of our kids have gone somewhere with friends, we always sign a paper saying we authorize medical care. We also take along the friend's HMO card, or send along our child's card.

In all the times we've done this, we've never had to seek medical care, thank goodness!

 

[ksjayhawks]

Make sure you date it and include copies of the insurance cards.

I always add dates of birth for the kids, any allergies, medications taken, etc.

 

[phillybeth]

Add a contact number for you too! Just in case god forbid that a medical facility would need to get in contact with you.

Make sure your kids know your emergency contact number and your mom's number by heart, in case they get separated.

 

[snarfer1]

These letters, along with school versions (for field trips, etc) actually have very little use. For example, a child needs emergency care. If it is a life or limb-threatening injury, no consent is required, implied consent is present and the child may be treated.

Say it is non-emergent care (not sure why they would be taken to the doctor), No one will be able to verify the signatures on the form. No one knows if the Grandparents are acting as your agents, or may have abducted the children on behalf of the non-custodial spouse (in case of a divorce).

So these forms are basically worthless!

However, it is comforting to know you have filled them out, and provided the insurance information (which does provide some financial relief for your parents), so go ahead and fill them out.

Same thing for an advanced directive. If the paramedics start resucitation in the field, and then the family shows up with this 'living will' in the ER, no one is gonna stop the resucitation. We can not verify signatures, etc. It will go to the Hospital end-of-life committee (next business day) for action, unless the patient's personal attending physician will come in and disconnect the patient from life-support. That of course assumes he has privaleges at this hospital.

Bottem line, implied consent protects your children. Filling out the form just makes us feel better.

-Tony

 

[jmmom80]

we do the same thing, but we include copies of our driver's license for signature verification. and it does work - my in-laws were able to take my dd to the emergency room for stitches using the letter (not notarized). certainly not life threatening, but they would not have treated her without the letter.

 

[my3kids]

I sent away for a form when my now teenager was a baby. It is supposed to be a legal document. I've always left it with the caregiver. It is written across the top to not write on the form but use it to make copies. I always have.

It has a place for a witness to sign verifying the parent signature is the parent's own.