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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6yr old child given medication without parental consent

400 replies

Skippy21 · 20/02/2020 08:28

After collecting my two children 11yrs and 6yrs old from a half term holiday workshop they both were happy and excited about their outdoor fun that day despite small injuries- 6yr old had a tumble and hurt his ankle. No real issues there until my 11yr old daughter said the man looking after them gave Jack (6 yr old) ‘a tablet’ 😮😮, as he had hurt his ankle and was in considerable pain crying a lot. I was utterly beside myself with shock that this would happen- Jack was given an Ibuprofen tablet -adult!! Medication- no phone call to me and no authority to administer any form of medication. Jack is ok, and dosage was within his weight range- just. The man has been suspended from his position ( guy in charge had no idea this incident had occurred!!).
Should this be reported to police?

OP posts:
Thetellyisjelly · 20/02/2020 09:47

Wtf with all the competitive chilledoutness on mumsnet right now? And on this thread in particular.
My god op I’d hit the roof. Adults can not administer medication in this way?!!! What about contraindications due to medical history?, what about allergies, what about the possibility of the dose mixing with previous doses/ other medications this man wasn’t aware of?!
Appalling.

BigChocFrenzy · 20/02/2020 09:47

Suspension is appropriate, police is batshit !
What is the offense ?

The company will probably use the time to investigate whether his training included the instruction not to give medication without permission

If he went against training, he is likely to be sacked, which is punishment enough.
If not, then he - and all his colleagues - would need retraining.

Geoffreythecat · 20/02/2020 09:48

Ibuprofen isn't an 'adult' medication. Ibuprofen is for adults and children. The appellate dose was given. The issue is that of consent.

Original poster
Skippy21 · 20/02/2020 09:49

EvaHarknessRose the whole thing feels odd. My son had to be convinced to take it/ coerced. He spat it out twice and my daughter said the guy ‘checked his mouth to make sure he had taken it’ ?!?

OP posts:
AryaStarkWolf · 20/02/2020 09:49

Did you get the guy fired? jesus

drspouse · 20/02/2020 09:50

And a single ibuprofen tablet is exactly the right dose for this age/size.
The question is, did the OP give permission for any first aid to be administered at all?

Willow2017 · 20/02/2020 09:52

People like the op are ruining the world for everyone. More and more people don’t want to run, clubs and trips because of the fear of back lash if they make a mistake. Have you ever made a mistake OP?

Its not a simple 'mistake' to force a child to swallow a random tablet on the quiet. What if the chold hapd choked or been allergic to it? Its a clear breach of safeguarding rules.

All workers or volunteers in this setting should be aware of procedures around injuries and medications. There should have been topical aid for the ankle by a trained first aider or at the least a competent adult and no medication without ops consent.
Its really that simple.

Thetellyisjelly · 20/02/2020 09:52

I’d say ofsted or similar .
It’s very serious that he hadn’t been taught this in his training.

StatisticallyChallenged · 20/02/2020 09:53

If it is run properly there's several things that should have been in place that are missing

  • they should have allergy information completed for every child
  • medication requires a permission slip completed by parents prior to being administered
  • generic medication shouldn't be held or administered, only meds for specific children which should be clearly labeled as being for them. Generally held in a separate tub/bag within a lockable medicine cabinet
  • medicine being administered should be logged and signed by the parent at pickup so they know what has been given and when
  • manager should sign off the form too

That's our process in Scotland, might be a bit different in England but I'd expect similar. What's not clear is whether the club had appropriate processes and this guy didn't follow them, or whether the processes don't exist

Quartz2208 · 20/02/2020 09:53

What was the set up for the holiday club - is it an established one? My suspicion is that the whole set up has not been catered correctly for children and they are used to dealing with adults

And one assumes no she didnt she rightly mentioned to the people running it this had happened

Astrabees · 20/02/2020 09:53

Yes, he should have sought consent, but I really cannot see this is anything to get wound up about, I would have been grateful to him for being caring towards my child.

NomDeDieu · 20/02/2020 09:53

You can say a lot of things. In particular, That the guy didnt follow procedures such as checking for parental consent, recording of the injury/medication, telling the parent etc... (but was he actually trained??). And yes there is a POSSIBILITY that for another child, the consequence would have been very different (eg allergy to ibuprofene or interaction with other medication etc...).
What it is NOT is a police matter. Your child is fine, was given the right medication and the right dosage. Your dc actually said he enjoyed the day!!
And the people running the holiday club immediately ACTED on the information which shows their willingness to put things right rathwr than sweeping everything under the carpet.

A friend of mine has a child who was seriously injured in an accident would have had much more reasons to go to the Police (think broken back bones that were not recorded, nor treated etc...). I am afraid you don't.

PremierNaps · 20/02/2020 09:54

I'd perhaps give your DD a stern talking to about saying it was OK to tell the man that it was OK to give him a tablet. She's 11 and should know better.

He's been suspended. The police won't do anything.

Suchafaff · 20/02/2020 09:55

I am a little concerned about this but mainly because my DD (5) has allergies to a lot of medicines (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, penicillin etc.) Had this happened to her then she would have had a severe reaction.

There is a reason that consent is required, there is also a reason why there are paediatric doses of medicines.

I do not think you need to go to the police, but I do think in future you need to ask if the groups have adequate medical procedures for children. I have always been asked to fill in Medical/In Case of Emergency forms when my DD goes to groups so they are well aware of her allergies and what they can and can't do.

itsgettingweird · 20/02/2020 09:55

OP you've been asked questions that I can't see you've answered. (Sorry if I missed it)

Did you complete a form giving all the child's details, surgery number, medical information (including allergies) and permission to administer pain relief and seek medical attention at hospital if required?

Did this form also ask permission to take photos of the child and how you give permission for these photos to be used afterwards (Eg club board, website, SM etc)

TSSDNCOP · 20/02/2020 09:56

I don’t see it as competitive chilledoutedness so much as since the Holiday club have acted swiftly and the man has been suspended and will quite likely lose his job and Jack is fine, that most of us don’t see the need to advise OP to mount a posse.

Nomorepies · 20/02/2020 09:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request.

NomDeDieu · 20/02/2020 09:57

the whole thing feels odd. My son had to be convinced to take it/ coerced.

Quite a normal reaction from a child though. Both my dcs would have had to be 'convinced' to talke any medication in a tablet form at that age, esp as they were not used to take any medication in that form. I would have thought the guy tried his best to do what he thought was best for the child (anti inflammatory for an injury that created inflammation around the ankle).

By using words such as 'coerced' you are infering something particular that might not have ever been there. I mean, how many parents have coerced teir dcs to brush theit teeth by pinning them down 'because its good for them to brush their teeth every night even if they dont like it"? You need to put things into perspective imo.

TSSDNCOP · 20/02/2020 09:58

No Premier I really don’t think blaming the 11yo is appropriate. Adults run clubs.

QuizzlyBear · 20/02/2020 09:58

If there was no medical procedure slip signed then it's a good bet there's no medical procedure training given.

Of course they should have checked with you, but it sounds likely that the staff member didn't know that. Now the organisation has sacked him to cover their back - and you want him ARRESTED too? Jesus, that poor chap.

PurpleDaisies · 20/02/2020 09:59

What if your son had a major fall, cut his leg/arm or broken a bone and needed urgent treatment?

That is a completely different situation. There was no urgent medical need to give ibuprofen.

unchienandalusia · 20/02/2020 09:59

It if you're child has allergies this is notified to then club at the time of booking or with medical consent. This child isn't allergic, it wasn't therefore notified and the risk of allergic reaction was null?

Willow2017 · 20/02/2020 09:59

Did you get the guy fired? jesus

So you are ok with an adult forcing your child to swallow tablets without permission then?
Giving it to them 3 times and insisting that they take it then looking in thier mouth to make sure they took it? (How scary for a 6yr old is that?)
No matter what thier medical status is?
No matter if it interacts with something they had earlier?
If they are allergic to it?
Ok then...

MadameMeursault · 20/02/2020 10:01

I would also assume he was a first aider? I used to be a first aider, and ok this is a few years back and may have changed but we were taught to never give medication because you don’t know whether someone is allergic to it.

Yes what happened is wrong, but the appropriate action has been taken. To involve the police would be ludicrous.

poseysbobblehat · 20/02/2020 10:02

Any allergies should have been noted on a medical form