This message is for Liz Brooks or anyone else who may know the legal ins and outs of seeing breastfeeding mom and baby as outpatients postpartum. We currently (hospital)allow mother's to come back as many times as they need for assistance from either an IBCLC or a CLC. We do not charge for our services and we do not register them. We do document history, assessment and treatment plan on paper charting and keep it on file. Do we have a legal obligation to have mom sign a consent for treatment?Some of the staff believe there is implied consent since mom calls and asks for an appointment while others think we need mom to sign a consent. What are the legal risks for not having a consent for treatment? Dr. offices don't have patients sign consents for treatment when they make an appointment is a lactation consult the same? Also, how long should we keep our records on file?
Thanks for any input.

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