Child Healthcare Consent Form

What is a child healthcare consent form?

A Child Healthcare Consent form is a document that can be used by parents to grant authority to their children's caretaker to seek medical treatment for the children if necessary when the parents are unavailable to give consent themselves. This form ensures that if a child is being looked after by someone besides their parents, nothing will stand in the way of a child getting the medical care that they need in a prompt and efficient manner.

Is it mandatory to have a child healthcare consent form?

No, it is not legally mandatory to have a child healthcare consent form. However, it is strongly recommended in circumstances when a child is being looked after by someone besides their parents or legal guardians. Especially if the child has a regular caregiver, such as a nanny or frequent babysitter, it provides an important safety net in case the child requires emergency medical care and the parents or legal guardians are not there to provide their consent.

Whether a neighbor, relative, daycare, or other individual is looking after children, a consent form must be in place so they can easily and quickly access medical treatment for the children in both emergency and routine situations. Often, hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare providers will require some form of written documentation that the person who has brought a child into their practice has the authority to seek medical treatment for that child.

What is a "minor"?

A minor is a person who as not reached the age of legal majority in their state, typically under the age of 18 years old in most jurisdictions.

What is a "legal guardian"?

A legal guardian is anyone who has the legal right to care for a child and make decisions about their care. This includes biological parents are well as adoptive parents and legal custodians.

Who is involved in a child healthcare consent form?

The child healthcare consent form is used by any parents or other legal guardians to give their consent that a designated caregiver be able to do things such as seek emergency medical care or administer medication to their children when they are not there.

What has to be done once the child healthcare consent form is written?

Once the agreement is complete, it should be printed out and signed by the child's parents or legal guardians. Copies of the document can be given to the children's regular healthcare providers for them to keep on file. The designated caregiver should also keep a copy of the form to have on hand in case of emergencies.

What must a child healthcare consent form include?

A valid child healthcare consent form must include at least the following mandatory clauses:

• Identifying information: The child healthcare consent form includes the name, address, and contact information for all involved parties, including the parents or legal guardians, caregiver, and children. The form also includes the gender, birthdate, and birth location for each of the children.
• Medical conditions: The child healthcare consent form specifies whether any of the children have medical conditions, such as allergies, or other special medical needs.
• Scope of authority: The child healthcare consent form outlines the scope of the authority being given to the caregiver. It describes what the caregiver will be authorized to do, such as seeking emergency medical care, taking children to routine doctor's appointments, or administering prescription or over the counter medications.
• Insurance information: The child healthcare consent form provides the health insurance information for the children, including the name of the insurance company and the insurance policy number.
• Important dates: The child healthcare consent form states when it will go into effect and when, if applicable, it will end.

In addition to the above mandatory clauses, the child healthcare consent form may also include the following information:

• Preferred providers: If desired, the parents or legal guardians can specify preferred healthcare providers, doctor's offices, or hospitals in the child healthcare consent form.

What laws are applicable to child healthcare consent form?

Consent to the medical treatment of a minor is governed by varying state laws and professional guidelines. In most states, 18 years old is the age of majority (except for Nebraska and Alabama where the age of majority is 19 years old) and thus, before treating a patient under the age of 18, medical professionals must obtain consent from the patient's parent or legal guardian or any individual authorized to give consent by the parent or legal guardian.

Generally, when a parent or guardian is not available to give consent and a delay in treatment would be life-threatening or cause a patient serious harm, consent is presumed. However, to the extent feasible, medical providers are diligent about obtaining consent for any resultant ongoing treatment, in compliance with state law and professional guidelines.

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