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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School did not ask for permission to give child injection

138 replies

puddingsforsandy · 07/03/2014 21:33

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?

OP posts:
RevoltingPeasant · 07/03/2014 21:56

And what if you're not Gillick competent? Do they test every pupil?

What if a child forgot, or didn't realise that the reaction could happen again? Are they really checking against the child's medical records?

I doubt it.

Btw I totally support adolescents' right to access medical treatment independently of their parents. I just think this sounds like irresponsible production line stuff.

deakymom · 07/03/2014 21:58

umm sorry but i had to give consent for my daughters jabs she is 13

deakymom · 07/03/2014 22:00

personally i would be fuming if it were my youngest he is allergic to them

Original poster
puddingsforsandy · 07/03/2014 22:00

I have just checked with him again and he says he was told he was old enough to consent himself. He did not sign anything. Just given the piece of paper to hand to the GP.

I would have remembered signing a slip as well...it's medical.

I'm a very relaxed and chilled out parent and don't micro manage my child but I would have liked to have a say/know when this was going to be done.

It's just underhand. If the school can write to tell me it's pancake day, they should be able to write for something like this!

I won't kick up a fuss as it's done now but will mention to them that I want to be informed with stuff like this.

It feels wrong.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 07/03/2014 22:03

if it's bothering you that much OP then please ring the school on monday and give them hell for it.. if you don't get satisfaction then take it upwards.

I personally don't see the problem but I acknowledge that other parents might.

RevoltingPeasant · 07/03/2014 22:25

Viva haven't clicked because of DM link but again, who is checking these children are Gillick competent? My understanding is that G competency has to be established through a conversation, not assumed.

Did the nurse giving the injection check if (e.g.) he had learning difficulties? Did they ask if his parents had made other arrangements?

VivaLeBeaver · 07/03/2014 22:27

I've no idea who decides if they're competent or not. Do the schools flag up anyone who might not be competent? Do the nurses ask each kid a few questions before doing it?

RevoltingPeasant · 07/03/2014 22:30

Viva I've no idea but the reason I asked is that I really suspect not.

My DSis4 has mild learning difficulties and I suspect she would not have been fully Gillick competent around this age, in terms of knowing what treatment she had had and understanding long term consequences. But you know, you can't tell from looking at her!

Poppiesway · 07/03/2014 22:32

I've recently been chased up for not handing in ds1's consent form.. They rung and texted me until it was returned. As he had it in his bag and wasn't handing it in they wouldn't do it until I'd handed the form in. He was trying to escape having it done.. He did get it eventually.

But my point is, the school refuSed to give him the inj until they had the signed consent form back.

tiggytape · 07/03/2014 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AcrylicPlexiglass · 07/03/2014 22:37

I think it's great that he's all immunised up and was judged competent to consent. And all with no silly forms for you to sign. They do ask for parental permission in this area and my fool of a son lost the form and missed getting the jabs so I had to send him to the GP for them. Pain in the bum. Perhaps he was too scatty to be gimmick competent...

wooldonor · 07/03/2014 22:37

gamerchick - how is the 14 year old supposed to know if they are allergic to a vaccine. None of my children would have any idea if they're allergic, is it something that would normally be discussed? I'd be concerned too OP.

AcrylicPlexiglass · 07/03/2014 22:38

Gillick not gimmick damned autocorrect!

FudgefaceMcZ · 07/03/2014 22:39

I'd be searching his bag- the consent form is probably at the bottom squashed in a corner, in which case your issue is with son rather than school (they presumably asked him to consent in the absence of parental consent- similarly if a parent consented but a 14yo refused a treatment, it would be pretty hard to force them to undergo it).

bruffin · 07/03/2014 22:41

Ds was not given his vaccination because i forgot to send in consent form. I had to arrange for him to have it done at the gp surgery. Ds does have a health problem which caused a bit of drama at school one day so they are very cautious with him anyway

Andro · 07/03/2014 22:41

I personally don't see the problem but I acknowledge that other parents might.

The thought of my DD (who has crashed to the point of cardiac arrest after previous vax) being given responsibility for a decision about vaccinations at an age and in an environment where peer pressure can hold sway terrifies me.

MammaTJ · 07/03/2014 22:42

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.

I can assure you, as 'some trainee nurse', we of all people are not allowed to give injections without full and appropriate consent. We are not even allowed to give injections against someones will if they lack capacity, that is, if they are deemed unable to make decisions for themselves.

I do agree with you though, OP, in that this should not have happened. I would be furious as a parent if my child, as a 14 year old is, had an injection withouth my knowledge or consent.

Having said that, I wonder if this comes under the Gilick competency test.

NigellasDealer · 07/03/2014 22:43

mammaTJ I know!!

BoffinMum · 07/03/2014 22:46

It's assault.

Andro · 07/03/2014 22:47

is it something that would normally be discussed?

I didn't know my history with vaccinations until I was in secondary school, the issue arose because of a routine vaccination which was upcoming and I found out I had a bad history and needed to be in hospital. As a result of that I'll make sure my DD is fully aware of the potential danger...a fine line between good communication and scaring my DD to the point of non-compliance with all medial care.

Spinaroo · 07/03/2014 22:47

I signed for my daughter's HPV jab- but I do think there was a bit in the form saying that a nil return would be taken as a consent?? Maybe I am just imagining it

tiggytape · 07/03/2014 22:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

meditrina · 07/03/2014 22:53

They're on shaky ground in medico-legal terms if they are relying on parents to opt out unless they have checked that all parents have received the information. And that's much more of a hassle than collecting consent forms.

The child can be deemed competent, in which case their consent overrules that of the parent. But again, to do that properly requires checking every child fully understands the treatment and any implications for their health status. And again done properly, that is much more time consuming than getting parental consent.

gallicgirl · 07/03/2014 23:02

If under 16s are judged to be competent to assent to their own medical treatment, why was there that recent court case involving teens and vaccinations when the parents disagreed over treatment? whose opinion takesprecedence?

I'd be bloody annoyed. If an under 16 can't go on a school trip without parental permission, why should medical treatment be permitted?