The parenthetical "necessary" bothers me. I fully understand your explanation of why it is necessary, but your verbiage here places primacy completely on the doctor's advice. Negotiating is not a luxury - it is a necessity. Otherwise "informed consent" is no more than "the doctor said so".
From the article, the baby's temp subsided after sub-q fluids were given, in the intervening time between Dr. Godzilla's edict and the actual tap. Does this observation mean nothing, medically? (I don't know the answer to that question, so please don't consider it rhetorical or inflammatory.)
Finally, when communications break down between ER doctor and patient/parent, do you believe that the patient/parent loses authority to the doctor in a case such as this?
>>Finally, when communications break down between ER doctor and patient/parent, do you believe that the patient/parent loses authority to the doctor in a case such as this? <<
Many doctors think it does.