March 2009

1. 1.Any patient under the age of 18 and without a legal guardian present cannot refuse medial treatment and must be transported to either the infirmary or the hospital. see exceptions below
   

What this means for students under 18 years old: Always call us if anything is seriously wrong. We are happy to help, and will always prefer you call than not. Legally, however, if you are under 18, we must transport you to a higher medical facility because you are not yet an adult who can refuse medical care. So, if you are complaining of a minor medical issue that does not require a hospital, better to run by the health center first. update March 2009: We are now permitted to accept a refusal of further medical care even if you are under 18 for non-emergent medical issues (defined below) in one two conditions. Under the new protocols, if the medical issue is deemed non-emergent, BEMCo will attempt to contact via telephone the University Health Center or, if UHC is unavailable, a parent of legal guardian, who is permitted to authorize acceptance of the refusal. If you later decide you do need to go, we are still just a phone call away. Remember - x63333

Full text of related protocols:

source: Operating Rules

Refusal of medical assistance is to be signed by all patients who are not transported only after advising the patient that further medical attention should be sought.  A refusal may only be signed by a mentally competent patient of 18 or more years of age, the patient's parents or an appropriate guardian.

X.    Under special circumstances when the patient is under 18 and does not want to be transported or receive further medical attention, the Primary may contact the UHC nurse or doctor and advise them of the patient's condition.  The nurse or doctor may then allow BEMCo to obtain a signed refusal from the patient.  The signature of the nurse or doctor must also be obtained following the call.  In all cases, the decision to allow a signed refusal is up to the Primary or Supervisor, and he or she may require transport of any patient who does not fulfill requirements listed in (I).

XI.     A refusal of medical assistance may be accepted by the Primary or Supervisor from a parent or legal guardian of a patient under 18 via telephone if the Primary or Supervisor feels the patient is not in need of emergent care.  Non-emergent care shall be considered:

            Any bleeding that is controlled on scene

            General illness that is deemed non-emergent based on assessment

            Any other situation in which the Primary or Supervisor feels the patient is not in need of emergency care

In the event that a parent or guardian cannot be reached via telephone, the patient will not be allowed to refuse medical attention and will be transported to the appropriate facility, unless the patient fulfills the requirements listed in J.