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.

Problem solved!

Moot point atm but I would be disappointed if my teen dd declined.

There is a social responsibility to protect and it is selfish to refuse imo.

I am tested twice weekly and do so for the safety of the patients in my care.

I think concerns such as invasion, loss of personal liberty are not petty or selfish and that you should support your child's decision unquestioningly and ferociously, and not assume social media group think.
Children made to sacrifice everything and now their very bodies becoming politicised. I would not be happy for any medical procedure to be carried out on my child without my presence and their fully informed and educated, fully enthusiastic consent!

I read through the guidance at work today - it’s a moot point now but schools have been asked to do a swab of the throat and then the nose. It’s both not either.

@1FootInTheRave

Moot point atm but I would be disappointed if my teen dd declined.

There is a social responsibility to protect and it is selfish to refuse imo.

I am tested twice weekly and do so for the safety of the patients in my care.

You are an adult in paid employment. We're talking about a child.

Our school said over 16’s need to consent, otherwise it’s parents decision. I told my 16yr old he has to consent, but told him he’s having it done as it’s the right thing to do, he agreed. DD age 13 has no choice, I’m consenting, again it’s the right thing to do. They need to know that sometimes in life you need to do things you don’t like for the greater good and this is one of those times.

No school is going to force a child to take this test without the child's consent. Just like we can't make them have the HPV if they're freaking out

@Darbs76 that's all well and good the school saying that, but they are wrong. Yes parents do get to consent on behalf of under 16s but the child themselves can refuse despite the parental consent.

I do a LFT every time I go into work. It's back of the throat and up the nose.

I am not giving consent for my DD to have it. Extremely invasive, so it's not happening.

Good on you, @Sushirolls, seems people have no memory of being a child and no respect for them as autonomous human beings.
I feel strongly as a parent my chd is not my possession, they belong to themselves , and my responsibility is to protect them and only them.

I'm a bit confused by those in here saying their child 'has no option' but to have the test.

You do realise that your child still has every right to refuse consent themselves? What are you expecting to happen if you give consent and the child refuses? That those administering the test restrain your child and forcibly subject them to it?

Nobody is going to do that whether you think it's necessary or not. It's bizarre that so many people appear to believe they have absolute 100% autocracy over the rights of their child.

We have to do it for work. We just have to do snow swans and not the throat. It’s the easiest thing to do.

If I was asked to give consent for my 14 year old, I would. But it would be fully in the understanding that she would refuse. When she had to have a test a few months ago she had a panic attack so severe that she almost passed out, and was unable to eat for days afterwards as she was so anxious (she is terrified of vomiting). She would be completely incapable of administering the test on herself and after last time it would probably take two strong adults to hold her down. Her fear of medical procedures is so severe that she has told me in the past that even if treatment was to save her life, she doesn't think she could bring herself to consent to it. She won't even take paracetamol.

She's not selfish, she's unwell. (And yes, I have been trying to get help for her for years, but if you're not suicidal or self harming, you're a very low priority).

You can't force anyone to have a test if they don't consent, and nor should you.

Good for her. It's an invasive test. I would also refuse in her position.

Kids should have to stay off school if they won't be tested.

My 12 yo dd will refuse. She’s extremely frightened of anything medical including the dentist and always has been. She has a medical condition, which the test could trigger and make her very unwell for a few days. The medical condition stops her heart and therefore all her bodily functions. It automatically restarts. But it’s a horrendous experience.

But hey @rwalker my dd is just selfish to not voluntarily put herself through this ffs.

I've read that in Russia they don't test school children as the government think it's unnecessary. Wonder what other countries don't do the testing.

@Mummyoflittledragon
My 12 yo dd will refuse. She’s extremely frightened of anything medical including the dentist and always has been. She has a medical condition, which the test could trigger and make her very unwell for a few days. The medical condition stops her heart and therefore all her bodily functions. It automatically restarts. But it’s a horrendous experience.

But hey @rwalker my dd is just selfish to not voluntarily put herself through this ffs.

I think you will find thats a totally different senario and well you know FFS.
Your comparing someone who doesn't fancy it to someone who's heart stops FFS.

I'm not consenting to tests. I don't believe they will be accurate enough to rely on safely. So, it's not "selfish" or not giving a fuck: it's being intelligent enough to recognise that isolation is much more reliable in infection control after contact with a positive case. So we will be being responsible and sticking to that.