Parents traveling with my son. medical release form???

[DreaminDisney]

My parents are taking my son on a cruise and one of the ports is Canada. I did sign some paperwork for cruiseline but there was nothing in case he needs medical attention. Don't I need to write a letter or something saying my parents can make any medical decisions? Can someone help me whos experienced this? Am I supposed to make a copy of our insurance card or anything?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

DH and I did a weekend getaway out of state and I had a Medical POA drawn up. Friend who watched them is an educator--and was saying that it doesn't take our decisions away--but allows for non-emergent care to be provided. So if they got sick or had a non life-threatening injury--they could have our children treated at urgent care or an ER as appropriate. (If the child sustained a life threatening condition--doctors I think would stablize them without a POA, but no decisions coudl be made beyond that without a POA.)

I did also provide copies of our insurance so that they could provide that information if needed.

It was pretty simple--and it was notarized. The only thing I know it had to be was completely typed before the notary can sign it.

 

[Ohiodislover]

There are usually ones online that you can just fill in the blanks and print. My mom used one while watching my DD several years ago, and she got a fishhook stuck in her arm. It wasn't notarized and no issue at the ER.

With everyone having cell phones nowadays, I'm not sure that they are even as important as years past when a parent was unreachable.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There are usually ones online that you can just fill in the blanks and print. My mom used one while watching my DD several years ago, and she got a fishhook stuck in her arm. It wasn't notarized and no issue at the ER.

With everyone having cell phones nowadays, I'm not sure that they are even as important as years past when a parent was unreachable.

I'm not sure if it is necessary or not--but anyone on a cell phone could claim they are the parent, couldn't they?

 

[Ohiodislover]

I'm not sure if it is necessary or not--but anyone on a cell phone could claim they are the parent, couldn't they?

In theory, yes. But consent for surgeries and procedures are many many times obtained over the phone.

I never said they were not necessary, just probably not as important as in years past. Like I said, I print them for my parents when they have my kids.

 

[Sparx]

I remember my mom took a friend of mine on vacation with us once when we were both about 16. The friend's mother had a notarized POA written for medical decisions to be made.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I type out a letter when my mom has my kids. If DH and I are away together I just give her a set of insurance and dental cards. Along with Dr and dentist numbers, etc. If DH is away and mom has my kids I give her a photo copy of the cards as well as a copy of my Drivers License (not sure if she needs it but I like leaving a paper trail).

 

[minkydog]

There are usually ones online that you can just fill in the blanks and print. My mom used one while watching my DD several years ago, and she got a fishhook stuck in her arm. It wasn't notarized and no issue at the ER.

With everyone having cell phones nowadays, I'm not sure that they are even as important as years past when a parent was unreachable.

We recently took my DD17s boyfriend with us on spring break. His mother provided a medical POA and copy of his insurance card. It was just reassuring for me, in case we needed it.

Well...we experienced a horrifying rollover crash on the way home with this kid in the car(and both of mine.) Thank goodness we had that POA because we all ended up in the ER. They were able to start processing him quickly, while another person tried to reach his mother(I had already talked to her by that time.) Thankfully, BF wasn't hurt and everything went smoothly. My big old black MOM PURSE somehow survived intact with the POA safe inside.

 

[DreaminDisney]

thanks for info. I did have to have other forms signed and notorized allowing them to travel with my son. Their TA told my mom to have me call my insurance and get a form. I called today but spoke to someone who was no help. I can try again tomorrow. You would think a good TA would know what to do in a situation like this and even have some kind of standard form to fill out.

 

[DreaminDisney]

We recently took my DD17s boyfriend with us on spring break. His mother provided a medical POA and copy of his insurance card. It was just reassuring for me, in case we needed it.

Well...we experienced a horrifying rollover crash on the way home with this kid in the car(and both of mine.) Thank goodness we had that POA because we all ended up in the ER. They were able to start processing him quickly, while another person tried to reach his mother(I had already talked to her by that time.) Thankfully, BF wasn't hurt and everything went smoothly. My big old black MOM PURSE somehow survived intact with the POA safe inside.

Wow! Scary! Glad everything turned out ok.

 

[Ohiodislover]

Here is the one we used.


http://www.jakoterhealthorganizer.com/files/Permissiontotreatnew.pdf

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

thanks for info. I did have to have other forms signed and notorized allowing them to travel with my son. Their TA told my mom to have me call my insurance and get a form. I called today but spoke to someone who was no help. I can try again tomorrow. You would think a good TA would know what to do in a situation like this and even have some kind of standard form to fill out.

You can just type a letter....this is roughly what I typed (this is a googled version anyway (all the blanks in the document must be typed since it is your letter):

I, _________________________, of ______________________, hereby appoint _________________________________ of _____________________________, as my attorney in fact to act in my capacity to do any and all of the following:

1. Make any and all decisions and authorize all procedures that ____________ may deem necessary regarding the medical treatment of my children, _____________ and/or _______________.

The rights, powers, and authority of my attorney in fact to exercise any and all of the rights and powers herein granted shall commence and be in full force and effect and shall remain in full force and effect until _____________________________ or unless specifically extended or rescinded earlier by either party.

Dated ____________________________, 20____

BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority, on this ______ day of ___________________, __20______, personally appeared __________________________ to me well known to be the person described in and who signed the Foregoing, and acknowledged to me that he executed the same freely and voluntarily for the uses and purposes therein expressed.

WITNESS my hand and official seal the date aforesaid.

_______________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires:_________

 

[laurie31]

I'm not sure if it is necessary or not--but anyone on a cell phone could claim they are the parent, couldn't they?

If they call us, correct, they could be anyone - and we won't/can't talk to them, but if WE call THEM (using a number the adult in charge has provided) then yes, we'll talk, explain procedures, obtain consent, the whole works.

If the adult caring for the child hands us a phone and says, "This is the parent," we'll believe it, but if some random person calls us and SAYS they're the parent, then sorry, unless someone present who knows them talks to them and confirms their identity we can't tell them anything at all.

We had a wreck just a few weeks ago where a total of THREE different guys called trying to get info, all claiming to be the father, PLUS a FOURTH guy who showed up in person. I felt like I was on that old game show, To Tell The Truth.

Turns out they were all family members who wanted information and knew we wouldn't give it to anyone but a parent, so they were purposely lying...but they had us really concerned that they all really thought they actually WERE the father! (btw, none of these 4 guys was the actual father!)

If there's a life or limb threatening emergency, we can treat without consent, and if it's not an emergency, then there's almost always plenty of time to contact the parent.

A letter is fine, but a list of numbers where you can be reached 24/7 is even better.

 

[DreaminDisney]

You guys are AWESOME!!! Thank you so much!! These are both perfect. You have been so helpful.
I really appreciate you taking the time to get those for me!
Thank you

 

[manning]

There are usually ones online that you can just fill in the blanks and print. My mom used one while watching my DD several years ago, and she got a fishhook stuck in her arm. It wasn't notarized and no issue at the ER.

With everyone having cell phones nowadays, I'm not sure that they are even as important as years past when a parent was unreachable.

It may be an issue if you run up against one of those "we are going by the book" situation.

We were going to take a niece on a trip and explained to the parents we wanted the form and if the situation arised we would contact them by cell phone and relay their decission to the doctors.