If anyone knows about this could you also include where you got this information from or where I could get it from. Thanks!
2007-07-27 04:10:50 · 19 answers · asked by Nay Nay 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I am writing a speech about this issue and I know from experience that I was walked down to my car with a nurse so they could see that I had a carseat in the car, but they did not check to see if it was installed properly. I'm wanting to know if there is a specific law stating that a nurse has to accompany you, or if it's left up to each individual hospital and their policy.
2007-07-27 04:35:32 · update #1
There is no hospital that would allow a baby to leave in a car without a car seat. If you do not have one, they will even give you one.
Ok, I could not find the info I wanted, so I did a bit of research offline. I called a good friend of mine who is an attorney for personal injury cases. He said the reason they do this is because the hospital is liable for a patient from the moment they make inital contact (sign in) untill they have left the hospital grounds. So, even driving in the parking lot, the baby is still considered a patient of the hospital. If something were to happen in the hospital parking lot, and an infant was not properly secured in the car, it would be a liability for the hospital, and they could be sued by the infants parents, and the state could issue fines. Once the baby has left the hospital grounds, the hospital assumes no responsibility, even if something happened the same car ride 1 block away. So, to keep from getting sued for potentially millions, they take the extra steps for their own protection. The only way to leave hospital grounds with out a car seat is on foot. I hope this answered your question, sorry no links. ( I guess hospitals don't want the public to know they can sue for things that happen in the parking lot)
Edit for additional info: There is not a spacific law, and up to each hospital how far they take it. Some just do a visual check that you have one, some ask, some watch you put your baby in, some check it and the baby to make sure they are in correctly, and I would be willing to bet there will be at least 1 somewhere out there that actually does nothing. Good luck with the speach. What an interesting topic!
2007-07-27 04:14:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When I went in for my pre registration I was told that I would not be allowed to leave the hospital by vehicle without a car seat. They verify that the car seat meets regulations and that the baby is securely fastened in it, even going so far as to show you how to make sure the straps are properly adjusted. However they do not check the installation of the base as that is the car owner's responsibility. This is in Southern Ontario, Canada so the law about car seats seems to be pretty widespread. Any hospital should be able to tell you what section of the legal code you can look this up in, I would imagine it would have something to do with the Ministry of Transportation or whatever your equivilant is.
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/carseat/choose.htm
One of our publications about the laws regarding transporting minors, does not cover the hospital policy though.
Our local hospitals don't seem to have anything online regarding their car seat policy though.
2007-07-27 05:56:18 · answer #2 · answered by babybugs1980 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know a hospital that DID NOT check whether my friend had a car seat for her newborn ... She carried him in the wheelchair and The nurse just left when my friend got up and took the wheelchair ... I had came with my own car and her brother drove her home ... She held him on the way home not even bother to put him in the car seat ... I got upset with her totally blew her off ... Anything could happen between the hospital and home ... I had fixed the car seat for her brother cuz he was so clueless how it works ... I already had a toddler so I knew how it works ...
I wish I did wrote a commet to the hospital back then ... That was 10 years ago ...
Where my daughter was born 12 years ago, they told us that we couldn't leave the room unless there was a car seat available ... So my husband went to get the car seat and bought it back ... The nurse even made sure we properly placed the baby in the car seat ... and my hubby carried the car seat with the baby in there ... and boy, we had a 2 door car and the nurse had a very hard time getting in the back seat to see if the car seat was properly set up right ... Most of my friends' babies were born at the same hospital where I had my daughter cuz they loved their service ...
2007-07-27 04:43:27 · answer #3 · answered by Little J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the hospital that I know of would not all you to leave without a carseat!!
The most important item for the trip home is a proper child safety seat (car seat). Every state requires parents to have one before leaving the hospital because it's one of the best ways to protect your baby.
2007-07-27 04:19:49 · answer #4 · answered by ♥♥♥♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no hospital that will let you leave w/ out a car seat. The nurse would not even let me walk out of the hospital carrying the baby, they wheeled me down to the car and made sure we had a car seat that properly fit the baby and they did this to every person.
2007-07-27 04:22:16 · answer #5 · answered by New Mom_Christina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know how they would really stop you, but the hospital we got to won't let you leave without a carseat. They even come out to your car to make sure it's there and installed properly.
2007-07-27 04:15:24 · answer #6 · answered by Proud Mommy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To my knowledge no hospital will let you leave without a carseat. A nurse will follow you to the car and check to see if it is installed correctly and the baby is fastened in.
2007-07-27 04:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by Erica J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hospitals will not allow you to leave in a car with a baby without a carseat.
Are you looking to sue a hospital because they did because something happened?
2007-07-27 04:14:23 · answer #8 · answered by rebecca d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was told by my nurse was that they had to check that the carseat was approved and not expired, and that we put the baby in it properly and used the seatbelt or LATCH system to properly restrain the carseat, but they were not responsible for checking that the installation was 100% like the seat check stations do.
2007-07-27 04:56:10 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'll look up the legislation for you, but it's the law that you must have a carseat and the nurst must accompany you and ensure that you do in fact have an age appropriate seat. I don't believe they have to make sure it's installed properly, just that you have one. Good luck on your paper and I'll update this answer in a few moments.
2007-07-27 04:42:26 · answer #10 · answered by justwondering 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋