Child's consent for medical treatment..

[PamIsAVolleyballChamp]

Am hoping this comes across coherent but really upset from what a friend has said re my child and getting his 'consent' re treatment.
Our ds was born at 35 weeks, was in Nicu and still under 3 different consultant so hospital is our life and have clinics every 12 weeks. One of my colleagues has today told me it's abusive not to seek dcs consent before he has any tests or treatment and that we've been wrong for letting the paeds team do his surgery at 9 months without his expressed consent. How could he do that??

Ignore her

Your colleague is an idiot.

I think a child is deemed competent to give consent at 12 (Gillick competent). Until then you’re in charge and you make decisions in the child’s best interest, guided by doctors.

Consent is for those over the age of 13.

He's a baby. Your colleague is nuts

I'm sorry for DS was in NICU and has struggles.

I work in a medical field and have worked with children and parents. I'd love to know how your colleague expects you to get consent from a baby? Your colleague sounds unhinged and their comments are not true! Please ignore their advice or any suggestions they have.

Your colleague is a twat. I'm so sorry you're having to contend with this unspeakable idiocy whilst your son is in NICU.

I think your colleague might be on crack. She’s talking absolute bullshit.

So children who are too young to consent don't get medical treatment. Yeah, that makes sense and is entirely ethical.

Presumably there are medical treatments that can wait and in some circumstances that is a good idea. What would fall into that category? Removing an extra finger that is completely functional? There must be things like that, but presumably most medical treatments don't fall into that kind of category.

Why are you upset? You should be laughing. What your friend/colleague said is just bonkers.

A person cannot give consent until they can understand the ramifications of the decisions they are making.

”In legal terms, consent is a voluntary and affirmative agreement to engage in a specific action, often with the understanding that it is freely given and informed. It requires both the capacity to make the decision and the freedom from coercion, duress, or undue influence. Essentially, it means someone willingly agrees to something, without being pressured or forced”

A baby cannot give consent, parents do that on their behalf. She’s an idiot.

She’s a fucking moron.

Probably from the same bunch of unhinged people who want parents to get consent to change their newborn’s nappy.

Your colleague is an idiot! Your the parent and the medical profession would not suggest a procedure that wasn't required.

DS1 also had surgery at 9 months and was in neonatal unit as a newborn. I get it's scary the next response to your colleague is f off!

This

I mean come on that comment is so stupid it's not even worth thinking about is it

She's crazy. And I too am sorry to here what a gard time you & your wee one has had.

You could just tell her "but of course we made sure to get his consent first!" in an offended way.

Your colleague is barking mad. You’re following expert medical advice to give him the best chance of a healthy, happy life. You aren’t tattooing swear words on his forehead just for the sake of it!
And he’s a baby. It is, in fact, your duty and responsibility to make those important decisions for him until he is old enough to consent for himself.

I wouldn’t give this woman’s odd opinions even a second more thought.

💯 this! A tiny baby can’t be Fraser competent so consent if from the main care givers with Drs guidance

how the fuck does your colleague think a 9mth old can express consent

After all you've been through, that is what your colleague comes out with?! I hope you have other more supportive people around you.

Colleague clearly has no understanding of INFORMED consent, which is why adults are required for this purpose.

What a fucking stupid idiot.

Gillick competence doesn't have a specific age because it can vary substantially depending on the complexity of treatment, risks and long term consequences. It can also vary by child - because they will have differing maturities and capacity to understand.

What it definitely isn't is applicable to baby or toddler. The person needs a good ignoring.

When you have had a baby in neonatal and all the stress around it plus the stress of signing the forms for GA on a baby logic easily goes out the window.

Yes agree the colleague is an idiot but given earlier and current stress it's normal to be upset by someone stating something which makes it seem like you may hurt your baby (which is what the colleague is implying around informed consent)

My darling. Some people are fucking morons.
This is sad. For the rest of us.

In centuries gone by these sorts would usually rid us of our burden themselves through various means.

But now we live in an age where there are nut warnings on peanuts and the advice not to use a hairdryer in a bath. And so they live and breed and we have to suffer for it.

The best thing you can do is 1. Tell said person they are a moron and your day is worse for having to share air with them.

However if this could bring on an interaction with HR I advise option 2.

1. Smile and nod and remember that said moron can't be trusted past tying their own shoe laces.

She thinks your 9 month old baby should have given consent to a medical procedure? Id love to know how the hell she thinks the doctors would go about getting that. Is she also one of these batshit people who think babies should be asked for consent for nappy changes too 🙄

Honestly, how can someone be so idiot? OP, how you didn’t roll your eyes out of your head, I don’t know. Don’t give it a second thought, your colleague is thick as mince.