Minors & Health Care Law

 Who can legally give consent for treatment of a minor? Once a fairly simple question, the changing nature of families often complicates the answer. Providers must now frequently seek consent from separated or divorced parents, stepparents, foster parents, grandparents or guardians.

This handbook explains all state and federal laws related to consent for treatment of infants, children and adolescents. It covers emergency treatment, reporting requirements, referrals, access to medical records, release of patient information, refusal of treatment and child abuse reporting. Special consent issues addressed include when adolescents can consent to their own treatment, admission to psychiatric facilities, antipsychotic medication, convulsive therapy and HIV testing. Consent and release forms are included in English and Spanish.

Contents
• The Law of Consent
• Medical Treatment for Minors Lacking Legal Authority to Consent
• When Parental Consent is Not Required
• Minors with Adult Status
• Minors Authorized to Consent to Specific Treatments
• Special Issues
• Refusal of Treatment
• The Medical Record: Confidentiality and Access
• Child Abuse Reporting
• Release of a Minor from a Health Facility
• Minors’ Consent to Medical Treatment-Quick Reference Guide
• 30 forms; many in Spanish as well as English

CHA*, 208 pages (6th edition, 2004)

*California Hospital Association (CHA) books only - if CHIA member is an employee of a facility that can be a member of CHIA, but is not, CHA books must be sold at the NonMember price.