Parents out of the country

[Dueanamechange2025]

AIBU to ask what would happen in an emergency situation for say medical care and both parents with PR are out of the country? Would the person caring for the child make the choices or the medical team? Would the accept permission over the phone from the parents etc?

The person looking after the child would be acting in loco parentis and it would be accepted that welfare decisions relating to the child had been delegated to them, including consent to emergency medical treatment.

Is this for a school trip?

Our school states that this is not allowed and that one parent/guardian has to be in the country in case of emergencies. Of course I guess they can’t enforce it but it’s in all our school trip paperwork.
Yes permission can be given by phone if medical care is life or death but that is the same even in the school day (like if the child was having an emergency medical episode). And the principal of in loco parentis applies.

In a proper life or death emergency, medical staff will proceed without consent anyway as preservation of life would take priority (unless it was an injury incompatible with life, in which case pain management/symptom relief would take priority) and decisions would be made in the best interests of the child. An application can be made for a court order if needed.

Our school states that this is not allowed and that one parent/guardian has to be in the country in case of emergencies.

How would they even enforce that? It's fairly common for parents to sometimes go away and the children stay with granny or an auntie or a close family friend. My friend is a single parent and travels for work 5-6 times a year, her DC stays with me for anything from a day or two up to a week depending on the trip.

Drs would do what is necessary.

No for parents travelling and leaving a child with a family member.

In that case yes, it would be assumed that the appropriate adult would act in loco parentis. They wouldn't leave kid with their arm hanging off while the parent catches a flight home from the states.
Questions would be asked though.

No one is going to get into bother for having a holiday or travelling for work, etc and no questions would be asked provided the child has been left in the care of a capable/responsible/appropriate adult. Parents would obviously be notified and presumably would come home at which point they'd take over from the carer. It wouldn't be noted beyond a brief explanation in the medical notes and there'd be no questioning beyond the usual "how did this happen?" that they ask everyone.

Child left with 15yr old sibling - would be questioned, safeguarding issues raised.

Child left with sensible adult relative capable of caring for them - no questions.

In life and death scenario medics would act in best interests if person with parental responsibility is genuinely unavailable. But consent for procedures can be given over the phone if parents not physically present.

Safeguarding conversations/processes are commonly initiated to ensure the child is safe but almost always come to nowt.

Our school states that this is not allowed and that one parent/guardian has to be in the country in case of emergencies.

How does that work when school take the kids abroad? We sign to say that teachers can make decisions regarding emergency medical treatment as advised by the Drs (can’t remember the exact wording).

Thanks everyone was just interested in how would work.
More so whether it would be the responsible adult or the medical profession that made the decisions.