Teens refusing to consent to lateral testing

[gruffalo28]

We have received a consent form from school re lateral testing of secondary school children. The idea would be test all children when they come back to school and then if they are close contact of a positive case. I have heard all the negative comments re using these tests instead of self-isolation which I understand but I think it would be helpful to have test before staring school as might reduce a few positive cases and help protect staff and pupils (if/when they do go back). I have 2 year 8s, one has refused to consent to testing. My friends 2 daughters yr 7 and 10 have also both refused. I have tried to explain why its being done, the consequences for vulnerable people etc but dd is adamant.

The thing is she has just turned 13. Normally I make decisions like this for her. If I asked her whether she consented to a blood test she might say no, I tend to put it over as she needs a blood tests to check for x and y and the dr has ordered one and then its a fait accompli that she gets a blood test. This is her first time really consenting to a medical procedure. I think I just have to accept it but would appreciate some advice on how others might handle it. I'm slightly flummoxed by this reaction from my usually very compliant teen dd.

@christmasathomeagain

I didn't even ask mine, just filled in the consent. They will just be told they have to do if they ask.

No they won't. They can withdraw consent.

@ChazsBrilliantAttitude @Carolofthebellies it's one test with one swab, first the tonsils then up the nose.

It doesn't matter whether you consent and tell them they have to comply. They can still refuse when it comes to it - the written consent form is just your consent not the patient's. It will still be checked. And that's in line with Gillick competence so it isn't going to change nor should it.

Absolutely ridiculous for everyone else safety and her friends she needs to self isolate till the pandemic is over.
Be a lesson in life many things in life are pleasant but you have to do it.

Personally I'd be gutted my child was so selfish and entitled to not give a fuck about you and every one else for the sake of a swab.

Personally I'd be gutted my child was so selfish and entitled to not give a fuck about you and every one else for the sake of a swab
Or the child might be taking the view that the idea of abandoning isolation of known contacts for a flawed and unreliable system of testing is not one they want to be involved in.
It doesn't matter why they don't want the test. We can't force them. And that's fair enough.

@sashagabadon

Has she said why? What she is afraid of or worried about? I have just come back from a training course as I am a parent helper for my own kids school tomorrow where they are testing the yr 13’s and we have been told that they can just do the nostrils swab if they do not want to do the throat one if that is an issue for her? She may we’ll change her mind when she sees her friends doing it and realise it is no big deal?

This afternoon I watched the training video for HCPs' self testing for when we finally get our lateral flow tests and it was nose swab only, no mention of throat swabbing at all. I'd be surprised if they make children do throat swabbing, especially given how much I gagged and cried doing my own!

I am not consenting to my teens doing this. They don't want to and I think it is unnecessary. I am not convinced they are as accurate as we have been told, and the last thing I want is a false positive and my husband and I will have to isolate and we are self employed. I do get the Seiss grant but my husband doesn't as he hasn't been self employed long enough.

I gave consent on behalf of my daughter but not convinced about having a test instead of self isolating if she comes into close contact with someone with Covid. There was a short deadline from school and I felt pressurised to respond with not much info about it, then decided if I'm concerned I'll keep my daughter off school if she is told she has had contact with someone with covid.

I do lateral flow tests twice/week and it's nose only, not throat.

My BIL had symptoms and did a lateral flow test same day as a “proper” test.

Lateral flow was negative, “proper” test was positive.

@Kizziebel

I do lateral flow tests twice/week and it's nose only, not throat.

The instructions schools have been given are nose and throat

My year 7's school have been bombarding me with reminders to fill in the concent form - had about 4 reminders today after the form being sent out at the weekend.
It seems they're expecting them to go in to be tested next week even though schools won't be returning until the week after (assuming schools do reopen as planned, which I think is unlikely.)

She's reluctant so I was intending to wait so she can watch me do my self test when it arrives tomorrow, to hopefully reassure her.

What irritates me though is the rush to complete the form when the first line is saying that I agree that I have been properly informed about what the test entails and have had the opportunity to ask questions. I haven't.

I'm also not happy that children who have been exposed will be able to take this test instead of self isolating.

Ds’s college piloted then before Xmas. He opted out because he couldn’t bring himself to carry it out on himself. He said he would have had it done if he didn’t have to self administer. He is autistic.

I am not convinced they are as accurate as we have been told, and the last thing I want is a false positive and my husband and I will have to isolate and we are self employed.
The far greater risk with these is false negatives

@MrsHamlet
Personally I'd be gutted my child was so selfish and entitled to not give a fuck about you and every one else for the sake of a swab
Or the child might be taking the view that the idea of abandoning isolation of known contacts for a flawed and unreliable system of testing is not one they want to be involved in.
It doesn't matter why they don't want the test. We can't force them. And that's fair enough.

The test had a degree of accuracy it's more about if you can do anything to try and help the situation no matter how small you should.

I think accusing someone's child of being selfish, entitled and not giving a fuck is despicable.
That better?

The secondary school students will administer tests themselves. A member of staff or volunteer will only be there to advise on correct procedure.
We had our training at the inset day today.

We wil still need to use it as I work in a PRU so we will still be open for all of our students.

It's up to her. She'll just have to isolate if she comes into contact with a covid case.

@MrsHamlet
I think accusing someone's child of being selfish, entitled and not giving a fuck is despicable.
That better?
There's an opertunity to limit risk to the household and won't because they don't fancy swab yes I think thats pretty selfish and entitled.

Well the can has just been kicked down the road with the closures just announced, but when schools do re-open, they should refuse access to any child that has declined to have a test without a good medical reason for that.

@UnicornMadeOfPinkGlitter

The secondary school students will administer tests themselves. A member of staff or volunteer will only be there to advise on correct procedure. We had our training at the inset day today.

We wil still need to use it as I work in a PRU so we will still be open for all of our students.

Anyone under 12 has the test done for them.

@CoRhona
No lateral flow can be nose only
www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/11/LFD_NHSStaff_A4_161120_.pdf

The PCR test is both.

Not that it matters now!!

Yes its all moot right now but may become relevant again after Feb half term. I agree with posters above, she feels scared, out of control and this is the first time she has bren asked for consent.She isn't particularly selfish, no more than any other just turned 13 year old, she's just a child and sometimes a bit like a toddler, no is the easiest answer that gives you the most autonomy when you don't understand what is happening. I wouldn't have asked the girls but the form expressly asked if they had consented so I did and just assumed they would agree (my failure). Do I think my just turned 13 year olds have Gillick competence, I'm not sure. I think its a gradual move from complete parental control to complete autonomy and we have just hit a roadblock I wasn't expecting. I might look into how the tests are done and do a learning session with her. Thanks for helping me think it through

We both get tested weekly (ONS covid survey), and will be tested monthly for the next year. It really is not a big drama or hideously unpleasant . 10 seconds swipe on one side of throat, 10 seconds the other side, 15 seconds up one nostril; so the whole thing takes just over half a minute.

    I'd ask DD for her reasons and I'm betting you'll find it's peer persuasion  based on social media hype and crap about  invasion, loss of personal liberty, disgusting sensation etc.  Please help her  fight back against this nonsense.

     Emphasise to her that  strong healthy normal women face, and learn to handle, lots of very minor inconveniences for our own benefit. For instance, every woman who menstruates, has no qualms about the sight of blood. We can put in our  mooncups and tampons.   Every young woman should get an HPV shot;  if she has a sex life she will need  cervical smear tests, if she uses certain contraceptives  she will have internal examinations, blood  smples  (by needle)  and urine tests.  She'll learn  her hormonal cycles, how to  examine her own breasts,  have mammograms. Our vaginas are designed to accommodate other bodies,  a penis and a baby.  We labour to give birth. If she travels the world she will seek exotic vaccinations, antimalarial treatment etc.  Women accept needles, intimate contact  and  physical  examinations  not as  a loss of liberty or invasion of our privacy, they are the proud hallmarks of autonomy,  self confidence,  healthy independence.  Our feminine  strengths.