Who Can Sign a Child Healthcare Consent Form?

A child healthcare consent form authorizes a medical practitioner to treat a minor (anyone under 18-year-old in the United States). By law, healthcare providers must receive consent from a patient before treatment except during a life-threatening emergency where consent is implied. In most cases, minors cannot consent to medical treatment. While there are some exceptions, child healthcare consent generally comes from the parents.

Divorced Parents & Child Healthcare Consent

According to the National Institute of Health, in the case of divorced or separated parents, the child custody agreement determines which parent can consent to medical treatment, what role the parent plays in decision making, and which parent has access to the child’s medical records.

Special Circumstances & Child Healthcare Consent

Legal Guardian – A legal guardian may consent to medical care of a child but the child healthcare consent form should be accompanied by a court order establishing legal custody of the minor.

Emancipated Minors – Minors who support themselves financially may motion the court for emancipation. Emancipated minors may consent to their own healthcare treatment. Proof of emancipation should be on filed in the patient’s records.

Grandparents & Babysitters – Grandparents and babysitters cannot consent to the treatment of a minor unless they are the legal guardians. If a grandparent or babysitter is watching over a minor, it is always a good idea to have a signed copy of a child healthcare consent form on hand in case of a medical emergency. Download a free child healthcare consent template here.