When can a child decide if they want a medication/vaccine themselves ?

[Medicationquery]

Is it 14 or is it younger? Dd is 13 and is refusing vaccinations and has now also told us she refuses a medication that may help a medical condition (extreme pain due to endometriosis) and wants to just carry on taking the current medication . She is very calm and gives us her reasons and is very intelligent for her age so does this mean she now has that choice ? I have heard of gilick competence but I wasn’t sure .

The issue with the medication is that her attendance is 93% as often day 1 (sometimes 2) of her cycle are so painful and heavy she has to stay at home. The school are saying she HAS to accept a treatment on offer or they will not authorise her absences and will fine because they were made aware that she had been offered something which may help. I feel stuck in the middle as it’s dds body and she refuses hormonal medication ?

School have no right to insist that someone take medication in order to attend school. Any medical professional needs to insure that she had given informed consent before administering any treatment

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/consent-to-treatment/children/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consent-the-green-book-chapter-2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillick_competence

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/supporting-immunisation-programmes

The school can fine you and initiate court action for the most stupid of reasons and schools that like to bully chronically ill or SEN children into leaving have been known to do this.

This doesn’t mean that they win at court- they usually lose and get a telling off. I think they’d lose this as well, a poster upthread has put the truth they have no legal leg to stand on to make a fine stick or win at court. That won’t stop them from making things miserable for you though.

I would support your DD and defend her choices.

The flu vaccine is optional, no one is required to have it. Id try and get her to consider HPV, Meningitis though as those are really critical. If you can take the time to explain she likely reacted to the nasal spray being live and show her how the school was wrong to give it to her…she will likely soften on that score.

The school are saying she HAS to accept a treatment on offer or they will not authorise her absences and will fine because they were made aware that she had been offered something which may help.

I would be telling the school that they are not privy to conversations between her and her GP, and therefore it's not for them to judge whether a particular medication is appropriate and certainly not their place to insist on it.

But separately I would be encouraging DD to take it. However ultimately, what are you going to do - hold her down?

@Medicationquery

was looking at the myoovi the other day is it good ?

I just bought one for my DD 17 who gets bad period pain and has also missed school due to it - (not endo as far as I know)

Anyway, she had her period this week and I gave it to her early as was meant to be a Xmas pressie. She says it is amazing! Really helped the pain - I was sceptical when I got it and it's only the first period she's used it for but maybe it could help your DD.

We have always had all vaccinations done

Thankyou I might get one for her !

Live vaccines are attenuated virus. The nasal spray is an attenuated virus. The injection is an inactive virus.

The nasal spray is not recommended for those who take oral steroids but for milder asthma cases it's fine.

ETA: while I always get my children vaccinated if @Medicationquery daughter can give a logical explanation why she does or does not want a medical treatment that shows she understands the implications of her decision then she absolutely can refuse treatment.

I think school would be on a very sticky wicket legally if they try to enforce a particular kind of treatment.

Vaccines is something to talk about and look at the possible reasons for a reaction with someone qualified like a GP or maybe someone in schools immunisation team who are medically qualified to explain risks and side effects.

Re the endometriosis as great as pain relief is it isn't preventing the condition from progressing and if she is this bad at 14 I would be concerned.

There is a UK woman campaigning at the moment to get NICE to change their guidelines on endometriosis and what it can do beyond the well known infertility and where it can be found. It can collapse lungs, be found on the diaphragm, cause kidney damage and you can lose ureter tubes and damage your bowel too. I follow an endometriosis surgeon plus other medical professionals on social media. I was diagnosed over 20 years ago and started experiencing pain at 15 they put me on the pill at 15 and it really helped along with other medications.

At 14 your daughter may not understand the full impact of her decisions especially around future problems. The combined pill is the first set of meds typically given to control the hormones in her body.

This woman has stomas because endo ravaged her body and they removed her bladder and bowel. She has had 17 operations already and is only 31.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyvg2157mvo