"Overwhelmed at the E.R."

I recieved a call from the Royal Alexander Hospital late one afternoon. Apparently, my son had a seizure. Randomly. Without warning. Without cause. They were very official in their notification to me, and said they were obligated to contact me as his mother for treatment options.  Of course I thanked them and made my way to the hospital. I rushed, as I was scared, nervous and couldn't think of why or how this had happened, all the while, praying he would be fine. 

When I arrived at the hospital, I rushed through to the ER, anxious to find my son, talk to the dr or nurse, and find out everything I could. Once my son was located, I sat patiently by his bed until the Dr arrived, as he was sleeping due to the meds,  only to be told that they couldnt tell me anything at all unless my son gave me permission as he was over 18 years old! Fair enough, as I always want to ensure he has the privacy he deserves as a patient, but was bewildered at why they told me initially that I was needed to make decisions on his care! They then asked me to wait in the waiting room until he was awake, as he had not consented to me being in the room, nor was he able to at the time. I pleaded with the woman and said "if I am even unable to sit by his bed, why did you bother to call seen as you now can't provide me any information at all"? The nurse  was quite rude and said, I am sorry ma'am, but it was an oversight on our part as we didn't realize at the time of the call that he was over 18 and thus doesn't need permission to be treated. I was completely thrown off guard and led to the waiting room to wait what seemed like an eternity. When he woke up 4 hours later, I was called in, as he had requested, and when I got to him, he said " where were you mom? I asked them to call you hours ago! He of course was scared himself, had several injuries due to the seizure ( he was in Canadian Tire at the time of the incident) and only wanted me to comfort him. After what seemed like forever, the nurse came in to say he was being discharged and wouldn't be allowed to leave without an escort and could I make sure he was successfully taken home. I gathered his things, went to collect the discharge paperwork, and was again denied. I had to go to the bed, get my son into a wheelchair, wheel him up to the desk to recieve his own paperwork. (Consent from him had been given several times by then) but they just seemed determined to make things as difficult as possible in this terrifying time. Do better RAH!