Under existing law, a minor who is at least 14 years of age, who has graduated from high school, or who is married, divorced, or pregnant may give legal consent to medical, dental, and mental health services for himself or herself. Also under existing law, any minor may give legal consent to participate in school counseling services, to donate bone marrow, or to determine the presence of or treat pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol or drug dependency. This bill would require a minor to be at least 18 years of age to consent to medical, dental, and mental health services, including participation in school counseling services, receipt of a vaccine, and the donation of bone marrow, unless the minor is married, divorced, pregnant, emancipated, or living independently apart from his or her parents or legal guardian. This bill would allow any minor to consent to services to prevent or treat pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol or drug dependency. This bill would prohibit a health care provider or governmental entity from denying a parent access to his or her minor child's health information, unless a court order prohibits the access or the parent is under investigation for a crime against the child. This bill would also provide that parents have a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the furnishing of health care services to their minor child.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-22-16, 22-8-4, 22-8-6, 22-8-9, 22-8-10, 22-8-12, 22-8-13, 16-22-16, 22-8-4, 22-8-6, 22-8-9, 22-8-10