Medical Authorization For Relatives .

Q: What kind of emergency medical authorization is needed by relatives who care for children on an occasional basis? I've got an in-law living nearby who wants to take our kids on day trips and weekend outings once in a while, and maybe a week-long trip in the summer. Her lawyer recommends that she have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care for each of kids in case they need emergency care. I've read through the draft, and it gives her WAY more power than I want to give her. My husband and I are usually fairly easy to reach by phone, fax, email, etc. - it's not like we're going on a two-month field excursion in Africa! And our kids are basically healthy - no existing health problems or special needs. What kind of authorization is adequate for once-in-a-while relative care? I've filled out many an Emergency Medical Authorization form for schools, daycare, camps, etc. Would something like that be sufficient for an individual, or is a DPAHC really necessary?

A:If your child has any medical conditions which might require emergency treatment, a Medic Alert medallion allows the information, as well as an authorization to treat, to be put in a database which can be accessed by the number the child wears

on the jewelry. As an adult with chronic medical problems, this has been helpful, and it could be essential for a diabetic or epileptic child. It also means you don't have to give every bit of information to every person who might be taking your child to the emergency room. Even if you're fairly close, you might not be easily reachable at the time (Way, way back when I was in high school, I had a seizure-type episode on a high school band trip. The director had problems reaching my parents because, as it turned out, they were in my father's office, connected to an off-site computer. The ironic thing about this was that his office was less than a block from the hospital!)