Am I allowed to go to emergency care by myself?

[Anonymous]

I'm only 17. I live with my mom who refuses to take me to the hospital (I can't ask my dad because he lives in another state). She just says look its normal stop bothering me take medication. And that im making it up.Or whatever bull shit she speaks. It's been a week and my wrist still looks swollen. It gets numb and I feel a shooting pain. It hurts when I move or lift objects. My fingers feel "stuffy" and it hurts to close my hand. I really don't know what to do my brace that I bought is not helping at all.
I was practicing my round offs for cheer and I don't know ehat happened after I felt a major stinging pain in my wrist after doing one.

[musicbrain5]

You need to go to the hospital, at least to get an X-ray and have your hand checked out by a doctor. You probably sprained your wrist or even broke it, so it needs to be scanned. The emergency doctors and nurses will take care of you - they cannot turn you away at the door. However, if they have to admit you to the hospital for whatever reason (i.e. put you in a room) to do further tests or to give you medication, they'll have to get your mom's consent to do anything. So in that case, let them know right away that your mom has refused to take you to the hospital or let you see a doctor. Your mom is the one who has to worry about getting in trouble for failing to provide the care that you need.

[Anonymous]

I would go to the doctor. Legally I'm not sure how that would work but I would just tell them that your mom refused to take you and that you are concerned for your health. Honestly your mom could be in trouble with child protective services for denying you the health care you need. That's pretty messed up on her part and I'm sorry you have to go through that.

[Red_Arrow]

Apparently you are in high school. See someone there. The cheer coach would be my first suggestion, a counselor next. Educators have certain obligations to report some things, and if you appear to have a medical situation needing attention and the parent is not getting it for you, they may be able to intervene. If your practicing was with the cheer squad, the school has a liability issue and will definitely see that you get attention. If you were doing it on your own, they are not liable, but the educators will still go to bat for you if you need medical attention. And waiting can allow things to get worse. Get some attention before it becames a permanent problem.

[ThisAndThat]

Was there any breaks in your skin do you know?

[Asker]

No breaks just severe pain and it hurts to close my hand and my fingers feel "stuffy"

[ThisAndThat]

Did you fall on your hand twist it or something? You said you were taking medication, are you talking antibiotics?

[Asker]

Medications as in IBUPROFEN and I think I twisted it I honestly don't remember it was a blur

[ThisAndThat]

I'm no doctor, but I would think since it's been a week and you are starting to see all this, if it were up to me I would take you to the ER, doctor or something. Treating it at home without knowing what you are treating is probably not a good idea. Did you call your dad?

[Asker]

My dad is sorta scared of my mom so he just follows whatever she says and he can't do anything about it.
I noticed that closing my hand is gettingnmore difficult to do and frequent shooting pains occur. It's swollen on my left wrist the part away from my thumb and an inch and a half further down. So I feel like I'm in bad need of a doctor lol

[ThisAndThat]

It sounds like you could have cracked something. Problem is you wouldn't know unless you had it x-rayed. And how would you do that if your mom won't take you to be seen. I would say just go, but I ended up at the ER years ago when I was 15 or 16 from a over dose and they wouldn't start any procedures without parental consent. I had to wait until my parents got there at 2 or 3 in the morning. So I wouldn't want to give you advise that would cause you to go there for nothing. It may be that way in every state, but Texas at least used to be that way. What state are you in?

[Asker]

I live in Seattle (:

[ThisAndThat]

Here is what comes up for the state of Washington:

While Washington State’s general age of majority for health care is 18 (RCW 26.28.010), a single, unemancipated* minor can
receive treatment without parental consent in the following areas:

depts.washington.edu/.../...Washington%20State.pdf

[ThisAndThat]

It goes on to say:

if the parent’s consent is not readily available, the consent requirement is satisfied and the minor can receive medical services.
RCW 7.70.050(4

[Asker]

Wow okay thankyou so much!(:

[ThisAndThat]

You are very welcome! Keep me posted let me know how you're doing (:

[RasmusAiken]

Many hospitals have a 'nurse online' service you could call. You may have a severe sprain (probable) but less likely and more serious would be a fracture of one of the small wrist bones (scaphoid).

see: www.bidmc.org/.../MostCommonInjuries.aspx

An emergency appointment is EXPENSIVE and the ER will call your parents before any treatment is offered. Why not try to convince your parents to get you an appointment in an Orthopedics office?

[Asker]

I only live with my mom and I never see her until late at night. When I text her she ignores me or at night she rarely listens to me. I usually pay the fee for the doctors. 5-10 bucks

[thtdiablo]

Just go there, they will treat anybody. Let them know that your mother didn't want you to go, that could be a serious issue. Which country are we talking about here?

[Asker]

US
I live in Seattle my dads in California

[thtdiablo]

Go to a doctor, and let them know the issue

[jmr2191]

The short answer is yes. The long answer involves a lot lf ifs, and or buts, including insurance, medical proxy, etc.

[523206720]

Go to the hospital anyway and explain to them that your mother refuses to provide you with a health card and you need medical treatment.

[red324]

You might have a fractured wrist. What did you do to cause it to start hurting?

[Asker]

Round offs I don't remember exactly what I did but I ended with severe pain and I heard a slight crack

[red324]

You really want to have it fixed cause if you let it go too long it's going to heal itself back incorrectly and they will have to break it again to set it back right. Has your mom ever given you an insurance card? If so take that to the clinic. You may not have insurance which is probably why she is hesitant to take you. Also I would call your dad and tell him. He may be in another state, but if he hears that you think your wrist is broken and mom isn't doing anything he's going to be mad and will probably get her to take you in. Talk to your dad first. I'm sure this will work.

[Asker]

Again I already talked my dad he's sorta scared of my mom so he just follows whatever she says. We have a lot of insurance lol she has never given me anything. She just well hates me. I'm only staying with her because of school believe me I'd rather be with my dad.

[llorando]

You could have carpal tunnel syndrome.