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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be worried about this consent form?

542 replies

LightShinesInTheDarkness · 15/09/2010 10:07

DD (12) has brought home the NHS Consent form for the HPV Immunisation for Year 8s.

We have decided, in a discussion involving me, DD and DH, that we do not want her to have the vaccine.

However, I am upset that the form says : (quote) Please note that while your consent is important, if you refuse consent the vaccination may still be given

It also says, 'Reason consent refused (PTO for additional space to give us your reason for your decision' - do I really have to give details?

AIBU to feel concerned?

OP posts:
Huskyflodynamo · 15/09/2010 10:10

Afaik you have to consent to any form of vaccination for your child. They cannot give your child a vaccination without a signed consent form.

If your dd suffered an adverse reaction to the vaccine then you would have every right to sue and possibly file charges for assault.

cory · 15/09/2010 10:14

The reason for the wording iirc is your dd's age. By the time they get to Yr 8, they are old enough to have a say in whether they want the vaccination or not: if a nearly teen is adamant that she wants the vaccination, her pov should be taken into account. She is old enough to read up on the risks and weight that against the risks of not having the vaccination. They are getting to an age where they need to have a say in important decision affecting their own future.

But they would not give the vaccination against the will of both the girl and the parents.

seeker · 15/09/2010 10:17

Why don't you want her to have the vaccine as a matter of interest?

minibmw2010 · 15/09/2010 10:21

I think any vaccination that cuts the risk of cerival cancer in later life can only be a good thing. But that's just my opinion .. why are you concerned about it for your daughter?

sixpercenttruejedi · 15/09/2010 10:24

Is it just this vaccine you have a problem with? Has she had all her other vacs?

BellasFormerFriend · 15/09/2010 10:27

They can give this vaccine without your consent. The form is standard wording, most other parents will have received a variation on the same theme.

Yes you need to give details, they are dealing with people who have all sorts of silly reasons so they need to know you have given this proper thought and arrived at an informed decision.

What are your reasons?

Original poster
LightShinesInTheDarkness · 15/09/2010 10:28

Thank you, cory.

I agree that DH does need to be involved in the decision, and she has been - no problem with that. However, she is still a bit too young to understand all the issues and I do not think she is sufficiently mature to give informed, consent, actually. She will be influenced by us, and school - once older, she will be better placed to make this important decision regarding her own health.

But the form seemed to suggest that if you did not give a good enough reason, they will do it anyway.

OP posts:
borderslass · 15/09/2010 10:29

Our forms said that it means the child can give consent.

bruxeur · 15/09/2010 10:30

No it doesn't.

bruxeur · 15/09/2010 10:30

Last to OP. Get out of the way, borderslass!

scaryteacher · 15/09/2010 10:31

So, can someone explain to me why, if this virus is such an issue, they are not vaccinating ALL women?

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 15/09/2010 10:32

They'll want to know your reasons for rejecting the vaccine so they can identify any patterns, I'd have thought. Particularly if the rejection is based on spurious reasons/bad information then they can tailor their education initiatives accordingly.

Original poster
LightShinesInTheDarkness · 15/09/2010 10:32

Thank you, bruxeur.
It must just be the design of the form which makes it seem that way.

OP posts:
seeker · 15/09/2010 10:33

The form means that if you don;t want her to have the vaccine and she does, she can over ride your decision and give her consent. But if you and she both don't give consent then they won't give her the vaccine.

BellasFormerFriend · 15/09/2010 10:34

Scary, because it is only effective if administered before any sexual activity has taken place, hence giving it at 12 when most girls are still virgins.

So your objection is that she is not mature enough for the vaccine?

the school will certainly not agree with you and this case has been puched before. If your dd tells the nurse on the day that she wants the vaccine then they can go ahead with only her consent.

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 15/09/2010 10:35

I guess they have to start somewhere, scaryteacher and they need to target the group that are most at risk and most likely to benefit.

Also, many of us will already have been exposed to the virus by the time we've reached our mid-20s so there's little point in vaccinating us on a grand scale.

You can get the vaccination privately, iirc.

ShrinkingViolet · 15/09/2010 10:39

our letter said that it wasn't available via the GP to the age groups being targeted via schools (although where does that leave Home Ed kids Hmm). DD1 had hers at the GPs as she wouldn't have been offered it via school due to some complicated age-school year mismatch which we never really understood.

sallyseton · 15/09/2010 10:42

It's too late for us, the vaccine is only effective pre-sexual activity.

Personally, if I was offered a vaccine that protected me against cervical cancer, I would grab it with both hands. And dd will certainly be having it when she is older.

But you may have your reasons?

JenaiMarrHePlaysGuitar · 15/09/2010 10:43

OP, why do you think this is such a big decision? Would you object to her having other vaccinations on the basis of her being too young to understand the implications?

We were all given the Rubella vaccine at 13 - this doesn't seem much different to me.

Longtalljosie · 15/09/2010 10:43

I think, scaryteacher, because of the virgin issue (getting in before sexual activity) and also because of the issue of sexual circles of acquaintance... basically, it is not the case that generally, all sexually active people are as likely to sleep with all other sexually active people. People generally sleep with people of their own age. So by targeting younger people all at the same time, you reduce their chances of coming into contact with the vaccine.

In my view, boys should get it too.

Original poster
LightShinesInTheDarkness · 15/09/2010 10:45

BellasFF - my concern is that at age 12, my DD is not mature enough to give her informed consent.

The decision to consent or refuse is legally hers - but at age 12, how can she possibly understand the medical, ethical and moral reasons for and against this new vaccine? I genuinely don't believe she can give informed consent.

To give some context, one of her geography homework questions this week was to find out the name of the longest river in Britain. That is the level of research expected at her age, how is that comparable to adequately researching the HPV Immunisation?
(she got the river question wrong, btw Grin)

OP posts:
NordicPrincess · 15/09/2010 10:47

i wouldnt bother with a reason, you dont need to explain yourself just leave it blank.

you cant expext an 11yr old to know whats best for her medically, shes still a child under your care and it should be your choice not hers

minipie · 15/09/2010 10:47

Fair enough Light - but that doesn't explain why you won't give your consent on her behalf (in the same way that you presumably did for other vaccines when she was younger)?

HermanTheGerman · 15/09/2010 10:49

If your DD really doesn't want to have the vaccine yet, it's not going to be a problem, is it? At that age, they're hardly going to be able to hold her down and force her to have it. On the other hand, surely at that age it's fair enough that a girl can ask to have the vaccine against her parent's wishes - it's her body and her health.

And of course you are not compelled to give your reasons. But if you do state them, as JenaiMarr points out, the programme can maybe be amended to reflect parent's concerns, which can only be of benefit to all. For instance, if you say you think it is too early, you can get information on how to get the vaccine done when she's a bit older, but still before she's sexually active.

Scaryteacher - 'So, can someone explain to me why, if this virus is such an issue, they are not vaccinating ALL women?'
AFAIK, the vaccine is only really effective if given before girls become sexually active, which in the UK is depressingly young. That's why we're all lost causes, but our daughters will be the first generation to benefit.

Casserole · 15/09/2010 10:51

Light has she had other vaccinations? I'm not looking to start a pro or anti vac debate and if you haven't given her any then I understand your point of view here, but if she's had all her other vaccinations I'm not sure why you feel particularly that she should give informed consent to this one alone?

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