School did not ask for permission to give child injection

[puddingsforsandy]

Child is 14 years. He has a plaster on his arm. He casually says he had an injection at school. I told him I don't remember signing permission slip. He says "oh the teacher said we don't need parental consent for this".

I have checked the slip and it's for immunisation for:
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio and Men C.

I don't know how to feel. Would they not ask for permission from parents?

[Waltonswatcher1]

Of course they should . Are you sure you haven't missed something here . I can't believe it ...

[Annunziata]

I signed that, I'm 100% sure.

Did 14 year old sign it himself?

[gamerchick]

and the problem is?

[lottieandmia]

That is terrible. And against the law I'm pretty sure.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

They should have permission as not every child is suitable. DD had such a severe reaction to preschool booster that we may not give teenage boost and if we do it will be done in hospital in case of anaphylaxis.

[NigellasDealer]

out-fucking-rageous - some trainee nurse tried to do the same to my DD -!! after i had specifically NOT signed the permission slip!
complain in the strongest possible terms.

[morethanpotatoprints]

I would make sure you didn't sign and that your ds didn't sign and then sue their asses off.
What if he was allergic to the ingredients or something? What if for some reason you were against immunisation.

I would go mental and heads would roll.
Check if the teacher did say this, if so, they are in the wrong.

I find it hard to believe this in this day and age, I'm gob smacked

[winterhat]

YANBU

[VivaLeBeaver]

At 14yo the children consent for themselves.

I never had to consent for 12yo dd's cervical cancer injection.

She had to say if she wanted it or not. However I was aware it was coming up, school informed us. So if I'd had a strong opinion one way or the other I could have discussed it with dd. I think your school should have sent a letter telling parents it was coming up.

If a 14yo wants a vaccination they'd be allowed to have it even if their parents said no. Likewise if they refused to have it they couldn't be made to have it even if their parents said they must have it.

[RevoltingPeasant]

Gamerchick are you serious? The school won't have his medical records. Maybe he has had a massive allergic reaction to a vaccine before? Maybe his parents already had this one done privately? Etc.

Dreadful op, complain.

[Bloodyteenagers]

At secondary age, your consent is not needed. The vaccination can be given if the young person is deemed competent to give their consent.

[NigellasDealer]

I never had to consent for 12yo dd's cervical cancer injection
really are you sure? that was the one that the school nurse tried to force on my DD despite the fact that we had discussed it and decided against it and not signed the permission slip that was sent out.

[hoobypickypicky]

Their argument will be that your 14 year old consented and that's sufficient. My argument would be that I was required to sign the form and that as I didn't the school/nurse has committed an assault.

I'd be bloody furious and be demanding answers too.

[gamerchick]

yep i'm serious.

I would have thought a 14 yr old is old enough to know if they have an adverse reaction to a vaccination.

[truelymadlysleepy]

I'm fairly sure under 16's have to have parental consent.
Even if the young person is Gillick Competent parents should be made aware that the vaccination is being offered.
Quite often these 'teenage vacs' are given in General Practice rather than school, due to parental choice.

[WestmorlandSausage]

see other similar thread.

The school are not responsible, they just provide the premises, they don't physically hold down your darlings and forcibly inject them.

The NHS does that bit

When you say you 'checked the slip' what slip?

[ApocalypticBlackHorseman]

We got a letter home telling us they were going to be doing a vaccination in school, it gave us the option to object.

[meditrina]

Consent is required for medical treatment.

Under 16s can give their own consent if they have been individually assessed as competent so to do - you cannot give blanket permission for 14yos as a group.

Something has gone badly wrong here.

[Bloodyteenagers]

At 14, if you are Gillick competent then you will be aware if you have recently had the vaccination and if you have allergies.

[WannaSplitAPineapple]

In our area a consent form goes home. If the parent doesn't want the child to have it the can return a refusal. If nothing is returned the child is given the opportunity to consent on the day in school. The injection is given either by the school nurse team or a set immunisation team that runs along side the school nurses who do hold medical records for the child.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm sure I never signed a consent.

I suppose by the fact they've sent a letter home and I haven't rung the school saying not to do it they can argue that's implied consent. Though there's a risk I don't see the letter.

[ExitPursuedTheRoyalPrude]

Is he ok?

[NigellasDealer]

in dd's school you had to sign and return the slip saying you agreed to it

[SpinningFates]

Complain.

[NigellasDealer]

...if you did agree that is