<p>So, would an ER just let your kid die rather than treat them without consent???</p>
<p>I was trying to quote megpmom. I wish I knew how to quote. I wish I knew how to do a lot more “tricks” on these boards. LOL!</p>
<p>My niece went to Northwestern at 16, with a December birthday. She will be a senior this fall and will turn 20 in December.</p>
<p>I am not sure what papers her parents had to sign, but I do know she has been in contact with the dean of students office to make sure things have run smoothly.</p>
<p>The only issue I have been made aware of is when some of her older friends went out drinking and rode the el trains half intoxicated. My niece was the designated sober person to make sure everyone got home safe and sound since she was the only underage person there. It was a bit overwhelming for her I think.</p>
<p>I’m sure there will be a hurdle here or there so be prepared. I’m sure there are many freshman who land at college at 17 and don’t turn 18 until the fall after classes start since many states the kindergarten cutoff is after the start of kindergarten (or they skip a grade). If he’s socially ready and emotionally old enough you can handle the parental sign-offs until he’s a legal adult. The hurdle was probably deciding to let him skip a grade. We’ve had friends that did and friends that didn’t (because of the social/emotional “stuff”) The year goes fast.</p>
<p>An ER would not let your kid die. If it is a life or death situation, they would treat. If it’s not (and it’s usually not), they need parental consent.</p>
<p>If there is any chance your son will be attending an out of state college and driving a car (either his own or someone else’s), you might want to check the state’s graduated driving laws as they apply to out of state kids. For example, if you come to NY from somewhere else, your son might not be able to drive between 9PM and 5AM, or with more than one passenger, etc. NY requires you to obey BOTH the restrictions of your home state, and those of NY.</p>
<p>If he will be playing a sport, you will have to sign permission forms.</p>
<p>D was 17 when she started her freshman year over on the other coast. She was handed a housing contract and asked to sign it. I told the student who was handing them out and collecting them that she wasn’t 18 yet. Just got a blank stare!!! D signed it and it was gladly (!!) accepted.</p>
<p>So it really does “depend” on a lot of things.</p>
<p>I gave her a signed letter for medical treatment that (thankfully) was never needed. </p>
<p>Only real hastle was the bank required a co-signer for her checking account and the credit card had to be in my name with her as an additional card holder. So, really not a problem.</p>
<p>OTOH, our bank let S1 set up a checking account at 17 w/o a parent as a co-accountholder.</p>
<p>Now that I think about it, we gave him a letter w/permission to treat, too. Never needed it.</p>
<p>Sorry - wasn’t trying to be snarky about the ER thing. I knew they would treat a dying person! However, the medical consent things seems to be one of the most important things to look into. Do these students keep the medical consent form on their person all the time? I mean, it wouldn’t do any good to wind up in the ER, but not have it to present it, right? I would worry a sick kid wouldn’t think to get it out of a drawer or wherever it was stashed. Storing it in a wallet next to the insurance card might not be a bad idea.</p>
<p>I do appreciate these answers. Driving stuff is interesting, too. Our state has similar restrictions on drivers under 18, though not as early of an hour to be off the road.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Theoretically, the one time my D ended up in the emergency room - she didn’t have purse which contained insurance card and medical consent form. She sent roommate back to dorm to retreive it and they were able to treat her. It was the middle of the night and D called to tell us all about her “adventure” the next morning. Nothing life threatening, just stupid college student hijinks that ended in misfortune.</p>
<p>My daughter was treated in the ER at 17. I didn’t sign anything, didn’t give consent, wasn’t asked. I never even thought about it until now. I guess it really does depend on the college. I did get the bill for her co-pay :)</p>
<p>I also didn’t have any problems with her going to college at 17. I didn’t have to sign anything special. No problem with her banking account although we opted for a joint BofA student account so I could put money in it here if she needed it.</p>
<p>Just one minor thing: If the school has a workout gym your son wants to use (or has to use for gym class), he might not be allowed to without parental consent.</p>
<p>The only issue my D1 had (that has not already been mentioned) was that I had to sign a release for participation in a psychology experiment. Participation was required for one of her classes and she was underage and required parental consent. I think the forms were all sent through email or fax wasn’t a big deal but had we been aware we could have filed the release ahead of time.</p>
<p>This probably isn’t an issue for the OP, but: I know a 17-year-old who was accepted to McGill. The (U.S.) parents would have had to appoint a legal guardian in Canada, had the student chosen to attend. The guardianship would have ended when the student turned 18.</p>