Parents and their children, especially teenagers, often have questions concerning their rights to consent, or refuse to consent, to medical care for a child. The parent(s) or guardian of a minor child (a
"minor" is anyone under the age of eighteen years) is generally required to give informed consent for most medical decisions on behalf of that child. However, there are exceptions, and there are certain types of medical care for which minors may themselves consent.
The following discusses who may consent to medical care for a minor child. The first section covers the laws which allow minors to consent to their own medical care. The second section discusses the laws which allow parents, including divorced parents and foster parents, guardians and others to consent to medical care for minors.
The following documents are available in PDF format:
