Which statement about informed consent for treatment of minors is true?

Which statement about informed consent for treatment of minors is true?

• A. Only one parent can consent to treatment
• B. Emancipated minors cannot consent to treatment
• C. Emancipated minor can consent to treatment
• D. Consent is not necessary for non-emergent care

Answer: (C)

Emancipation grants a minor the legal authority to make their own medical decisions, including giving informed consent for treatment. Because of that status, an emancipated minor can consent to care without a parent’s permission. This is why the statement about an emancipated minor’s ability to consent is true. In practice, non-emergency care usually requires consent from a parent or guardian unless the minor is emancipated or qualifies under the mature minor doctrine, which some jurisdictions recognize for certain services. Conversely, emancipation does not render the other parent’s consent unnecessary in all cases, and it certainly does not mean consent isn’t needed for non-emergent care in general.

Emancipation grants a minor the legal authority to make their own medical decisions, including giving informed consent for treatment. Because of that status, an emancipated minor can consent to care without a parent’s permission. This is why the statement about an emancipated minor’s ability to consent is true.

In practice, non-emergency care usually requires consent from a parent or guardian unless the minor is emancipated or qualifies under the mature minor doctrine, which some jurisdictions recognize for certain services. Conversely, emancipation does not render the other parent’s consent unnecessary in all cases, and it certainly does not mean consent isn’t needed for non-emergent care in general.