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Waivers and Release Forms
How important is it to obtain medical and liability release forms before sponsoring mission trips?

Kathleen Turpin responds in our Ask the Experts discussion.


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Question:
What is the process for obtaining medical and liability release forms for organizations sponsoring foreign mission trips? What are the risks of NOT having such documents from your participants?

Answer:
There are many unique risks faced by ministries sponsoring foreign mission trips. Some of those risks are relatively minor, while others, such as the recent Haiti catastrophe, can be life threatening.

Release forms are a lot like seat belts. They are an important safety precaution, but they don't always prevent someone from being injured. Here's why you need them.

Medical release forms are often needed to obtain emergency medical treatment, especially for minors. If medical releases are not obtained before a foreign mission trip, medical care could be delayed or denied.

How to find them: You can download free sample medical releases from a number of websites. You may also get them from doctors or hospitals. However, make sure a local attorney has reviewed and approved your medical release form before using it.

Liability release forms alert participants to risks they could encounter in a foreign (or domestic) service project. While a release can't address every conceivable risk, it should cover the most anticipated ones (transportation, injuries and illnesses, foreign threats, project risks, etc.).

Whether a liability release will hold up in court tends to vary, based on the facts of the case and the state law that governs. If the release is well thought out, specific to the situation, and is properly signed, courts are more willing to enforce it.

How to find them: Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company offers a free medical and liability release form for ministries, called an Activity Participation Agreement. You can download and customize the sample form, but be sure to have a local attorney approve it before putting it into practice.

Additional Information: For more information about waivers and release forms, see the downloadable resource, "Waivers and Releases," available on our sister site, BuildingChurchLeaders.com. Also, see the ChurchSafety.com download, "Planning Safe Missions Trips," before embarking on a domestic or overseas mission trip.



Posted: February 17, 2010
Vernon J. Friesen
  (Guest)
I have used almost exactly the same form to help me in the many trips both overseas and stateside for the work teams I have cooridnated. Along with reading and self taught I formulated the form much like it, years ago. Never once was there a medical emergncey that it was needed but I believe that it also helps the parents as well as the work-team member to recongnize the importance of trust in the coordinator of the trip to be given that responsibility for ministry. I am assisting a mission agency with some orientation for a short term of ministry and they use a similar form as is presented by you all. We buy insurance but pray that we don't need it so now please use the form and pray you don't need it.

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