Anonymous
06/29/2025 09:22
Subject: Parents’ access to records
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Had DC sign a FERPA waiver, HIPAA authorization, and a medical power of attorney before she started college. Our lawyer wrote them for us.
I understand why someone might want a FERPA waiver and HIPAA authorization (though I wouldn't ask my kid to sign this).
But why do you need medical power of attorney? My understanding is that a medical power of attorney allows the person of your choice to make medical decisions for you in the event that you're incapacitated. But if you don't have that, then the person who would have the right to make those decisions is your next of kin, which, assuming you're an unmarried college student, would be your parents anyway.
What am I missing?
Say your child has a medical emergency - maybe they are hospitalized with severe illness or have to have surgery for a compound fracture. You call and want to know how they are doing. The hospital can’t tell you anything. You have to go through your child - hopefully they are awake and not hopped up on pain meds or getting an x-ray or currently in surgery and can tell you everything that’s happened and what the doctor says about it. Or hopefully they remembered to write down your name and info on their admission forms as someone the doctors are allowed to talk to.
Much easier to have the HIPAA waiver already in place.
PP here - right, that’s the HIPAA waiver. I’m asking about medical power of attorney, which designates a decision maker if you’re incapacitated. But if an unmarried college student is incapacitated, the parents would already be the medical decision maker as next of kin. So how does medical POA help you?
Anonymous
06/29/2025 08:47
Subject: Parents’ access to records
For the HIPAA waiver and Medical PoA, pretty much everyone should have these in case they are incapacitated.
My Medical POA says my spouse is the decider if I am incapacitated. My spouse’s says me. Our kids’ will say both parents until they get married or move far away. Later in life, probably ours will say our kids.
On the FERPA waiver, opinions on DCUM always will disagree. Many previous posts suggest the answer will vary with circumstances. As an example, a special needs student might be different from a completely neuro-typical fully able student.
My Medical POA says my spouse is the decider if I am incapacitated. My spouse’s says me. Our kids’ will say both parents until they get married or move far away. Later in life, probably ours will say our kids.
On the FERPA waiver, opinions on DCUM always will disagree. Many previous posts suggest the answer will vary with circumstances. As an example, a special needs student might be different from a completely neuro-typical fully able student.
Anonymous
06/28/2025 22:56
Subject: Parents’ access to records
I’ve been out of college for 30+ years. My parents didn’t have access to my college grades. This would not be “taking control back” it would be continued helicoptering and prevent young adults from gaining independence and the ability to make their own decisions.
Parents didn’t have control, couldn’t “see location” and typically only talked to their college student once a week on the phone- and for 20 minutes when rates were low. The constant contact and access to students is not helping society.
Parents didn’t have control, couldn’t “see location” and typically only talked to their college student once a week on the phone- and for 20 minutes when rates were low. The constant contact and access to students is not helping society.