Legally, a person caring for your children cannot authorize medical care without your written permission, according to the Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana. That's why it's a good idea to fill out a form authorizing the babysitter to consent to medical care in your absence. Doctors may, indeed, withhold care to children who don't have life threatening injuries due to fears about potential lawsuits from the parents--even if the babysitter is a relative.
Forms
Medical release forms can be authorized for babysitters as well as relatives, school staff, friends and others. They go by many names, including "Permission to Treat" forms, "Power of Attorney for Consent to Medical Care" forms and "Medical Permission" forms. When you give the babysitter a medical permission form, you are giving that person authority to seek any medical care she deems necessary. Some people notarize their medical permission forms, while others simply have a witness sign them. In addition, some people include a statement releasing care providers from liability for accepting the caregiver's consent.
Considerations
Proxy consent can be thorny for medical practitioners. A provider's responsibility to treat the patient in the most effective manner exists regardless of parental desires expressed in proxy consent, or of the desires expressed by the care provider, according to the February 1995 journal "Pediatrics" (Volume 95, No. 2, pages 314-317). Fortunately, impasses regarding parents' expressed wishes and the interests of the children are rare, according to the journal.
Liability
You are financially liable for any care that a babysitter seeks under the auspices of the medical release form. It's a good idea to have a discussion with the babysitter to spell out conditions that you would not like them to take the child to a doctor for, such as an earache. It's also a good idea to provide the babysitter with directions to the child's doctor and the nearest hospital or medical facility when you give him the form.
Basic Information
The form needs to have basic information, including your name, your spouse's or any other legal guardian's name, the name of your child, the babysitter's name and contact information for you and any other legal guardians. You also need to write a statement granting permission to the babysitter to seek medical attention for the child. Include any qualifying details, such as procedures you do not authorize. Also, your insurance information must be provided on the form. If possible include a copy of your insurance card or cards. Include the name of the insurer, the policy number, the group number and the contact information for the insurer.
Health History
Information about your child's medications, allergies and any health history such as date of last tetanus shot, blood type and medical conditions or previous hospitalizations that could impact treatment decisions, should be detailed on the form, along with contact information for the child's primary care physician.
