Does a grandparent have the right to speak with their grandchild’s doctor?

In Washington, it is not specifically stated in a grandparent rights law whether a grandparent has the right to speak with their grandchild’s doctor. However, the law does state that if a grandparent has been granted visitation rights, they have the right to “communicate with the child’s teachers, doctors, dentists and mental health providers”. In addition, Washington State law does not restrict grandparents from accompanying their grandchild to doctor appointments. If a grandparent has been given visitation rights by a court, they have the right to ask questions and receive information from the doctor regarding their grandchild’s health as long as the parent with decision-making rights has given permission. In this situation, the grandparent has the right to be informed about their grandchild’s medical care and treatment plan. In cases where the grandparent does not have visitation rights, they may still be able to speak with their grandchild’s doctor. The grandparent would need to provide some sort of proof of their relationship to their grandchild, such as a birth certificate, to their grandchild’s doctor in order to be allowed to ask questions and receive information. Overall, it is unclear whether a grandparent has the right to speak with their grandchild’s doctor in Washington. It depends on the circumstances, but typically when a grandparent has visitation rights, they can communicate with the child’s doctors. Without visitation rights, a grandparent would need to provide proof of their relation to the child in order to speak with their doctor.

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Does a grandparent have the right to speak with their grandchild’s doctor?

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