Unless you have 2 legal documents signed by your child, medical providers have to treat you like a stranger — and that’s the law.
Upon age 18, everyone becomes responsible for their own medical decisions unless they give consent for others to be informed or involved in their care. Verbal consent works.. but what if your adult child is knocked unconscious…or worse?
Even in the most serious circumstances, doctors and nurses can’t share health care information with you — not even it’s truly a worst-case scenario for everyone. But there’s a solution!
- Download free Medical Power of Attorney and HIPAA Release forms from any reputable online source in the state where your adult child goes to school.
- After your child signs them, make copies for the health care office at your child’s school, for your child and yourself.
- If you have a smart phone, store these documents in the Health app/similar. (On the iPhone, look for the white icon with a little red heart.)
Then, let’s hope and pray you never need them.