 |
 |
 |
Download medical consent form in Microsoft Word format.
Medical Consent Form for Grandparents: All You Need to Know
Do you have children who regularly visit their grandparents, either for the day or for extended visits? Have you yet filled out a medical consent form for grandparents—a form that would allow them to authorize medical treatment for your children if needed? Grandparents are a big part of your children’s lives. They babysit, take your children on trips and even watch them for extended periods of time while you’re away. However, despite what many people believe, grandparents do not share the same rights enjoyed by a child’s parents or legal guardians, and unfortunately, that also means they are unable to give consent for medical treatment, unless, of course, you have provided them with a medical consent form for grandparents in advance. In this article we will discuss why these forms are so crucial for children who regularly spend time with their grandparents, and show you the basic pieces of information that should always be included on one of these forms.
Medical Consent Form for Grandparents: Why Is It So Important?
Everyone knows that grandparents make the best babysitters. They are not only vested in your children’s lives, they are also very loving and extremely trustworthy. We feel comfortable leaving our children with grandparents, because, after all, who makes a better babysitter than the two people who raised you or your spouse for all those years?
But although grandparents are certainly an integral part of a child’s family, they lack certain decision making powers that are granted to parents. For example, unless they have been appointed, by a court of law, as the child’s legal guardian, they do not have the authority to authorize or consent to medical treatment for that child, unless the parents, beforehand and in writing, authorize permission for the grandparents to make those decisions. Consequently, if your children are staying with their grandparents—and you have failed to sign a medical consent form for grandparents—and those children fall ill or become injured in an accident, no medical treatment can be given until you, the parents are reached. This can cost valuable seconds in an emergency situation, and could just be the difference between proper treatment and less than adequate care.
Medical Consent Form for Grandparents: What Information to Include
A medical consent form for grandparents need not be an elaborate document, but it should contain some very basic information. This includes:
- Child’s name, address and social security number
- Parents’ names, address and telephone number
- Grandparents’ names, address, telephone number
- Statement authorizing permission for grandparents to consent to medical treatment
- Child’s health information, including blood type, medical conditions (past and present) current medications, allergies
- Insurance information
- Name, address and telephone number of family physician
- Signatures—parents, grandparents, two witnesses (adults other than parents or grandparents)
A medical consent form for grandparents, one that contains this basic information, allows these very important people in your child’s life to make snap decisions regarding medical treatment. This can include emergency care such as surgeries, x-rays, stitches and blood transfusions, to basic medical care in an outpatient setting. It can even allow them to authorize dental and mental health treatment if necessary. If your children spend any measurable time with their grandparents, this consent form, which takes but minutes to fill out, is a great way to ensure your children will receive the treatment they need in both emergency and non-emergency situations.