Rape of a Minor Under 12 Years of Age – A minor under the age of 12 may consent to the diagnosis, treatment, and collection of medical evidence related to their rape.Healthcare providers must attempt to inform parents of the assault, unless there’s reasonable cause for believing that a parent committed the assault. Sexual Assault – Minors who have been sexually assaulted may consent to any medical care related to the diagnosis, treatment, and collection of medical evidence relating to any sexual assault. Parents may not be informed without written permission. Abortion – A minor may consent to an abortion without parental permission.Parents may not be informed without permission. Contraception – A minor may request birth control without parental consent.Healthcare providers are not permitted to inform parents of such treatments without the minor’s written permission. Pregnancy – Minors may receive maternal healthcare without parental permission.Parents must be involved (unless in appropriate), but do not have a right to the related health records without permission from the minor. Outpatient Mental Health Services – As noted above, minors over the age of 12 may consent to mental health treatment, but not for care involving drugs or other medically significant interventions.Parents typically have the right to review all related medical information. Emergency Medical Services – Providers may provide medical care for minors without the permission of a parent if they believe that the procedure must be performed immediately, and there isn’t enough time to obtain parental consent.In 2011, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 499, “Minor Consent Reproductive Health Rights,” which granted children at least 12 years of age the right to consent to services for the prevention and/or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.Ĭurrently, California law provides minors the right to consent to treatment for the following medical concerns (this list is not exhaustive): However, parents do not have a right to their child’s mental health records, unless the child provides written permission to do so. Parents must be involved in the child’s treatment, unless a mental health professional deems such involvement inappropriate. In recent years, the rights of minors to have access to medical treatment and have their privacy protected have been greatly expanded by the California Legislature.įor instance, in 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 543, “Minor Consent Mental Health Rights,” which granted children 12 years of age and older the right to receive outpatient mental health treatment. Since the 1990s, California law has afforded minors the right to consent to certain types of medical care, such as the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, without the consent of their parent or guardian. In some circumstances, California law prohibits disclosing medical data to a parent without the child’s consent. On a social level, a parent’s interests in their child’s health can cause embarrassment for a child who is struggling to understand how their body is changing and growing.īut there are other serious issues surrounding the medical treatment of a child. River Bend Medical Associates is a family medical practice, which means that our staff has the profound joy and privilege to watch the children we treat grow up into young men and women.īut as these growing boys and girls are accompanied by their parents to appointments over the years, there inevitably comes a time where it becomes challenging to address each child’s medical needs, while also satisfying parental concerns.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |