According to the definition in the law, a minor is defined as a person who is less than 18 years of age. A minor is given limited rights; the rest he can claim after 18 years of age. It must all be kept in mind that the age of minors may differ from country to country. But, generally, it is taken as 18 worldwide.
Importance of Informed Consent in Medicine Practice
Informed consent is the basis of medical ethics. Whenever a doctor intends to treat his patient, he has to get permission from his patient to proceed. Informed consent is the ideal form of consent where the patient is given complete information about his disease and its course, the methods of treatment, and the prognosis or possible outcome of the treatment options.
Consent Form
Who can give informed consent??
All individuals who have crossed the age of 18 are eligible to consent to their treatment in any form. They can consent to all the surgical procedures on them or any other invasive or non-invasive investigations and procedures. A minor cannot give consent to his treatment by himself.
Who can consent to a minor?
Since a minor cannot consent for the treatment and procedure to be done to him, his parents or registered guardians are authorized to consent in their place.
Minor consent form
A consent form for a minor is quite similar to the other consent forms, only with slight differences.
- The father or mother of a minor has to sign the consent, and they are informed about the disease process, treatment options, or surgical procedure to be done on their child.
- A minor child may or may not be provided with the information, depending on his age and his ability to understand the situation.
- The person who is signing the consent form is ideally asked to write down the procedure in his handwriting to prove that he has been informed about it.
- He or she has to write his name, his relation to the minor child, the name of the minor child, his sex, and his date of birth.
- After that, the guardian or parent has to mention the treatment and must mention that he consents to this treatment or surgery of his own will for his child.
- Then he signs the consent form with his full name, and a witness from his side is also asked to do the same.
- It is ideal to mention the doctor’s name and his signature on the consent form to make it a complete and authentic consent form.
- Once, the consent form is signed, the treatment is started right away, and if it is a surgical procedure, preparations for that procedure are made well in time.
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