Question

A 15-year old boy enters your clinic requesting treatment for scalds received on his hand while emptying the dishwasher at his place of employment. Although his family receives medical treatment at the clinic, you are uncertain about seeng him without his parents' knowledge. Can he consent to treatment? What are the legal reamifications?

Answer 1

Teens have the right to give consent for treatment but only to certain extent like getting HIV testing, contraceptives,sex education.

Legally after age 12 the children understands things.They could be explained about the procedure to be done in their own knowledge.They should be able to make decisions.

Even with guidance of specific legislation there will be grey areas in mater of consent in treatment of minor.

But in this case the boy is with history of burns( scald) from work place.so it has to be informed to the parents to avoid legal issues .To explain the parents about the degree of burns and treatment.

Later the Medicare or Medicaid to be checked

Usually Medicare is issued to children aged 25 or younger.

They even have the rights to do Medicare rebate, ie., to pay the physician and then get the reimbursement from the claim