I took my girls in for their yearly physicals this morning. I do take them every year, b/c DD #1 has a couple of issues that need to be monitored, and DD #2 is Type 1 diabetic, and NYS requires doc-signed health forms for school in certain grades. Although there are things I REALLY dislike about this practice, I stay with it b/c there are also things that I really like - one of them being the ability to get a sick appt on nights/weekends (my kids are rarely sick, but when they absolutely require immediate care I don't wanna be waiting for hours in urgent care). There are a couple of decent docs, and one really wonderful nurse.
So we go in today. No one needs vaxes for school, older DD just needs a health form this year; we're seeing the new (female) PA. There's also a new nurse - young, friendly. The PA is equally warm and friendly, and I relax a bit; thinking, this visit should go well and we'll be out of here in a jiff.
Right away, the PA asks me about DD #2's "lagging" vaccine schedule; I explain that we are declining while I continue my research. Fine, she just wants to know DD's chart and be brought up to speed. Great. Still friendly, no hassles there. Girls have their physicals, we discuss some specifics, and we're done.
Or so I think.
Nurse comes back in with my sign-out paperwork and, "We just need to have you sign this form b/c you're refusing vaccinations today." I'm confused, b/c neither of the girls is "due" for anything. I glance at the form and see "DTaP" (which actually should have read TDaP, DUH) - and I remember that their OFFICE policy (NOT school policy) is now a DTaP/TDaP booster every five years - and according to them, DD #1 is "due".
My stomach immediately twists into knots - I know this is the beginning of a pissing match, and I'm going to have to stand up and show my girls exactly what I've been talking about for the past several years. I already made the mistake of signing their farking form for DD #2, and then backtracking and insisting that they put a heavily modified (by me) AAP Refusal form in her file to replace theirs (which was a half hour argument, they want their OWN refusal form on file and in fact hadn't ever SEEN the AAP form) - and then finally realizing that I'm not obligated to sign ANYTHING just to make them happy!!!!
I tell the nurse, I'm not going to sign this. If they need something for the file I'll send a copy of DD's school exemption, or I'll write something myself and sign it. Poor thing, she was utterly confused and obviously not used to a parent refusing anything. She leaves. DD #1 says, "Woo, Mom ... you're gonna tell them, aren't you!"
I hear heated conversation with one of the docs in the hallway - he's the one I argued with last time, and he's obviously not wanting to talk to me face to face. Fine, I really don't want to speak with him either. I SUCK at confrontation, but thanks to this board my resolve is solidly THERE. I know my damn rights - and I wasn't about to cave in now.
Nurse comes back in, definitely looking like she'd rather be anywhere else at that moment. "They just have to have this signed for her file before you leave. They want their own form, not something else." I reply that I'm not required by law to sign anything, and that I will not sign something that isn't in my own words. I felt so bad that this sweet, so-wet-behind-the-ears girl was stuck in the middle of this crap, but I was not going to back down. She exited for more heated conversation in the hallway. I'm tired of waiting and ready to walk out, when in comes the nurse and the records manager with a too-big smile on her face. "Before you leave, we need you to sign SOMETHING that states that you are refusing vaccinations. It has to go in the file before you leave. We have a blank AAP form if you really want that." I'm fed up. As nicely as I can, I say, Look - I'm not signing anything that isn't in my own words. I can send you a copy of her exemption that's on file at school, or I can write a note saying I'm refusing vaccinations and sign it, and I will send it to you. I'm not signing anything today. Apparently, this chick had the sense to know that I wasn't going to be bullied and pushed around. "OK, but understand that we have to have something for the file." Fine, I say, and herd the girls out. Sorry for all the bother, I tell the nurse, who is apologizing all over the place to me. I realize you didn't know about this stuff, it isn't your fault.
Just know what you're up against. Even if you think you've got a "good" doc/practice. They'll try to blindside you whenever they can.
So we go in today. No one needs vaxes for school, older DD just needs a health form this year; we're seeing the new (female) PA. There's also a new nurse - young, friendly. The PA is equally warm and friendly, and I relax a bit; thinking, this visit should go well and we'll be out of here in a jiff.
Right away, the PA asks me about DD #2's "lagging" vaccine schedule; I explain that we are declining while I continue my research. Fine, she just wants to know DD's chart and be brought up to speed. Great. Still friendly, no hassles there. Girls have their physicals, we discuss some specifics, and we're done.
Or so I think.
Nurse comes back in with my sign-out paperwork and, "We just need to have you sign this form b/c you're refusing vaccinations today." I'm confused, b/c neither of the girls is "due" for anything. I glance at the form and see "DTaP" (which actually should have read TDaP, DUH) - and I remember that their OFFICE policy (NOT school policy) is now a DTaP/TDaP booster every five years - and according to them, DD #1 is "due".
My stomach immediately twists into knots - I know this is the beginning of a pissing match, and I'm going to have to stand up and show my girls exactly what I've been talking about for the past several years. I already made the mistake of signing their farking form for DD #2, and then backtracking and insisting that they put a heavily modified (by me) AAP Refusal form in her file to replace theirs (which was a half hour argument, they want their OWN refusal form on file and in fact hadn't ever SEEN the AAP form) - and then finally realizing that I'm not obligated to sign ANYTHING just to make them happy!!!!I tell the nurse, I'm not going to sign this. If they need something for the file I'll send a copy of DD's school exemption, or I'll write something myself and sign it. Poor thing, she was utterly confused and obviously not used to a parent refusing anything. She leaves. DD #1 says, "Woo, Mom ... you're gonna tell them, aren't you!"
I hear heated conversation with one of the docs in the hallway - he's the one I argued with last time, and he's obviously not wanting to talk to me face to face. Fine, I really don't want to speak with him either. I SUCK at confrontation, but thanks to this board my resolve is solidly THERE. I know my damn rights - and I wasn't about to cave in now.Nurse comes back in, definitely looking like she'd rather be anywhere else at that moment. "They just have to have this signed for her file before you leave. They want their own form, not something else." I reply that I'm not required by law to sign anything, and that I will not sign something that isn't in my own words. I felt so bad that this sweet, so-wet-behind-the-ears girl was stuck in the middle of this crap, but I was not going to back down. She exited for more heated conversation in the hallway. I'm tired of waiting and ready to walk out, when in comes the nurse and the records manager with a too-big smile on her face. "Before you leave, we need you to sign SOMETHING that states that you are refusing vaccinations. It has to go in the file before you leave. We have a blank AAP form if you really want that." I'm fed up. As nicely as I can, I say, Look - I'm not signing anything that isn't in my own words. I can send you a copy of her exemption that's on file at school, or I can write a note saying I'm refusing vaccinations and sign it, and I will send it to you. I'm not signing anything today. Apparently, this chick had the sense to know that I wasn't going to be bullied and pushed around. "OK, but understand that we have to have something for the file." Fine, I say, and herd the girls out. Sorry for all the bother, I tell the nurse, who is apologizing all over the place to me. I realize you didn't know about this stuff, it isn't your fault.
Just know what you're up against. Even if you think you've got a "good" doc/practice. They'll try to blindside you whenever they can.
At least DS is vax free but still- they didn't tell me my rights or alternatives. Isn't that what INFORMED consent is? I was bullied
: I ended up writing my own form up and they put it in the file ontop of the other one I signed. Apparently this voids the previous one. I was told it's illegal to remove the old form so it's in there for good 
) two choices - a copy of the religious exemption (signed and notarized) on file at the school, or a short statement, prepared and signed by me, stating that I refuse vaccinations on religious grounds. Period.
It's difficult for me to speak up against others to, you've bolstered my confidence!
