A child (minor) medical consent form allows another adult (besides a parent or legal guardian) to make healthcare decisions for someone under 18 when their parents or guardians are unavailable.
- What Is a Child Medical Consent Form?
- Who Can Consent to a Child's Healthcare?
- When Is a Child Medical Consent Form Necessary?
- What Will Happen If I Don't Use a Child Medical Consent Form?
- The States and Medical Consent for Minors
- How to Write a Child Medical Consent Form
- Sample Child Medical Consent Form
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Child Medical Consent Form?
A child medical consent form (or a child medical release form) is a written document authorizing a designated adult to make healthcare decisions for a minor child. As a parent or legal guardian, you will likely need other people to care for your minor child at some point. For example, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, nanny, babysitter, or family friend may care for kid during an emergency.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, healthcare workers can only provide emergency care without parental consent if the child’s life is in danger [1] . So, to get prompt medical treatment without obstacles, you can execute a child medical consent form.
Supplementary Forms
If a parent or legal guardian is not traveling with their kid, they often pair this document with a child travel consent form.
Who Can Consent to a Child’s Healthcare?
Parents and legal guardians can consent to medical treatment for a child without a consent form. Sometimes, a child may have a medical emergency where a parent or legal guardian isn’t present to consent to treatment. In such cases, the following individuals can give consent if they have prior authorization:
- Stepparents: Stepparents can consent to medical treatment if they have legally adopted the child or have permission via a consent form.
- Adult relatives/family friends: Adult relatives and family friends may consent to medical treatment for a child if a parent has approved them to do so.
- Foster parents: Foster parents may be able to consent to medical treatment for a child if the child’s legal custodians grant them permission. Alternatively, a court may grant foster parents temporary custody, allowing them to consent to some types of “ordinary” medical treatment.
If you want to grant a trusted adult the authority to make broad decisions on a child’s behalf, use a minor power of attorney.
Can a Child Consent to Their Own Medical Treatment?
A child living with their parents can’t usually consent to their own medical treatment until they reach the legal age, which is between 18 and 21. However, some states may make exceptions if the child:
- Shows adequate understanding of the treatment plan and associated risks.
- Serves in the military.
- Is married.
- Lives apart from their parents.
- Manages their own finances.
- Can’t reach their legal guardians or parents.
When Is a Child Medical Consent Form Necessary?
This form is useful any time when you’re away from the child, as it lets you authorize the caregiver to take charge of your child’s medical care. Here are some actions a caregiver can complete when they have this form:
- Obtain Medical Records: A parent/guardian may allow a caregiver to obtain a child’s medical records so they can make educated treatment plans if an emergency arises.
- Consent to Routine Evaluations and Treatments: This form can let a caregiver consent to routine evaluations and treatments, including routine vision and hearing tests or staple removal.
- Authorize Non-Routine Healthcare: experimental treatments (clinical trial), surgical interventions, etc.
The reality of life means parents may not be with their children if an emergency occurs. A child medical consent form allows parents to designate a responsible adult to authorize medical treatment for their children.
What Will Happen If I Don’t Use a Child Medical Consent Form?
Not having a child medical consent form can result in the following consequences:
- Liability Concerns: Healthcare providers may refuse to provide treatment if they don’t see that you’ve authorized another party to make healthcare decisions.
- Delayed Treatment: If your child’s caregiver doesn’t have a medical consent form, a healthcare provider may try to contact you as the parent. This extra step can delay treatment and cause frustration for all parties.
- Participation Barriers: A child’s sports club, school, or religious organization may not allow them to attend if they don’t have a medical consent form on file.
- Issues While Traveling: If a child is traveling without their parents, their destination country might require them to have a child medical consent form (among other travel documents) to ensure their accompanying person can make medical decisions on their behalf.
When you are not with your child, a medical consent form can give you the peace of mind that they’ll receive prompt medical care.
The States and Medical Consent for Minors
Review a list of state laws pertaining to medical consent for minors:
| State | Child Consent Laws for Routine Medical Care | Child Consent Laws for Infectious Disease Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Ala. Code § 22-8-4 | Ala. Code § 22-8-6 |
| Alaska | Alaska Stat. § 25.20.025 | Alaska Stat. § 25.20.025 |
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 44-132 | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 44-132.01 |
| Arkansas | Ark. Code § 20-9-602 | Ark. Code § 20-16-508 |
| California | Cal. Fam. Code § 6922 | Cal. Fam. Code § 6926 |
How to Write a Child Medical Consent Form
Step 1 – Include the Child’s Information
Include the child’s full name, sex, date of birth, age, and address. The child is authorized by their parent or legal guardian to receive medical treatment when under the care of another person.
Step 2 – Fill in the Parent/Legal Guardian’s Information
The parent or legal guardian is the person who is giving consent for their child to receive medical treatment when they are not present. Include the guardian’s full name and contact information, such as their address and phone number.
Step 3 – Provide the Caregiver’s Information
Specify who will authorize medical treatment in the parents’ absence. Write the caregiver’s name and their relationship to the child.
Step 4 – Write Down Emergency Contact Information
Include the contact information for an emergency contact person the caregiver can contact if they can’t reach the child’s parent or legal guardian when the child is under their care.
Consider providing an alternative emergency contact person. This way, the caregiver will have a secondary option if the first emergency contact can’t help or doesn’t respond to a phone call.
Step 5 – Clarify the Medical Treatment
You can choose the range of medical care in your child’s treatment. You may authorize the caregiver to decide on specific types of medical care, such as:
- Routine examinations and checkups
- Emergency medical treatment
- Emergency medical transportation
- Diagnostic imaging (x-rays, CT scans, MRIs)
- Medication administration
- Anesthesia-induced surgical procedures
Include the start date of the medical authorization and consent. Express how long the consent is valid. You can end it on a specific date or leave it valid until you decide to revoke it.
Step 6 – Provide Health and Medical Care Information
This information can help medical and healthcare workers make quick and effective diagnoses and decisions. Include as much information as possible about your child’s medical history, such as their last tetanus shot, whether they have any known medical conditions or allergies, and if they’re taking any prescription medications.
Ensure to provide the following additional information to improve the chances of your child receiving timely medical attention:
- The child’s primary doctor
- The child’s primary dentist/orthodontist
- Your preferred medical facility for the child’s treatment
- Insurance company name and other insurance information
Step 7 – Sign the Document
You can include witness signatures or have the form notarized in front of a notary public when you want to sign the document.
The decision to include witnesses or notary acknowledgment on child medical consent forms varies by state. Check with your local or state law to ensure medical and healthcare professionals will recognize the form.
In certain states, you can seek online notarization. Check with a local notary to see if you can obtain remote online notarization and still have a valid, legally binding document.
Sample Child Medical Consent Form
Download a sample child medical consent form in PDF or Word format:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Both Parents Have to Consent to Medical Treatment for a Child?
No. Both parents don’t have to consent to medical treatment for a child. For married couples, the permission of one parent is enough for the child to receive healthcare. A divorced parent with joint or sole legal custody can also make healthcare decisions on their child’s behalf.
Some joint custody agreements state that both parents must consent to medical treatment. If the parents can’t agree, they must take the matter to court and have a judge decide. The judge may have them create a parenting plan to outline these essential details.
Does a Child Medical Consent Form Need to Be Notarized?
A child medical consent form needs to be notarized. Having both parents sign the document before a notary public increases its authenticity and ensures it’s legally binding.
Can Grandparents Give Medical Consent?
Yes, grandparents can give medical consent if a parent or legal guardian has authorized them to make healthcare decisions for the child.
The grandparent must present a signed medical consent form before the child can receive medical care. In an emergency, the document is essential as healthcare professionals will not perform medical procedures until they see they have permission.
If you grant a grandparent authorization, you should ensure they store the document in an accessible place. This way, your child can then receive medical care without delay, and you can avoid unnecessary stress.
