© 2014 National Center for Youth Law, revised: Oct. 2014. Available at www.teenhealthlaw.org.
CALIFORNIA MINOR CONSENT AND CONFIDENTIALITY LAWS*
MINORS OF ANY AGE MAY
CONSENT
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
PREGNANCY
“A minor may consent to medical care related to
the prevention or treatment of pregnancy,”
except sterilization. (Cal. Family Code § 6925).
The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or
legal guardian without the minor’s consent. The provider can
only share the minor’s medical information with them with a
signed authorization from the minor. (Cal. Health & Safety
Code §§ 123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10,
56.11).
CONTRACEPTION
A minor may receive birth control without
parental consent. (Cal. Family Code § 6925).
ABORTION
A minor may consent to an abortion without
parental consent. (Cal. Family Code § 6925;
American Academy of Pediatrics v. Lungren, 16
Cal.4
th
307 (1997)).
The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or
legal guardian without the minor’s consent. The provider can
only share the minor’s medical information with them with a
signed authorization from the minor. (American Academy of
Pediatrics v. Lungren, 16 Cal.4
th
307 (1997); Cal. Health &
Safety Code §§ 123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§
56.10, 56.11).
SEXUAL ASSAULT
1
SERVICES
1
For the purposes of minor consent alone, sexual assault
includes acts of oral copulation, sodomy, and other
crimes of a sexual nature.
“A minor who [may] have been sexually
assaulted may consent to medical care related to
the diagnosis,…treatment and the collection of
medical evidence with regard to the …assault.”
(Cal. Family Code § 6928).
The health care provider must attempt to contact the minor’s
parent/guardian and note in the minor’s record the day and time
of the attempted contact and whether it was successful. This
provision does not apply if the treating professional reasonably
believes that the parent/guardian committed the assault. (Cal.
Family Code § 6928).
Both rape and sexual assault of a minor are considered child
abuse under California law and must be reported as such to the
appropriate authorities by mandated reporters. The child abuse
authorities investigating a child abuse report legally may
disclose to parents that a report was made. (See Cal. Penal §
11167 and 11167.5.)
RAPE
2
SERVICES FOR
MINORS UNDER 12 YRS
3
2
Rape is defined in Cal. Penal Code § 261.
3
See also “Rape Services for Minors 12 and Over” on
page 3 of this chart
A minor under 12 years of age who may have
been raped “may consent to medical care related
to the diagnosis,…treatment and the collection
of medical evidence with regard” to the rape.
(Cal. Family Code § 6928).
© 2014 National Center for Youth Law, revised: Oct. 2014. Available at www.teenhealthlaw.org.
MINORS OF ANY AGE MAY CONSENT
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES*
*An emergency is “a situation . . . requiring immediate
services for alleviation of severe pain or immediate
diagnosis of unforeseeable medical conditions, which, if
not immediately diagnosed and treated, would lead to
serious disability or death” (Cal. Code Bus. & Prof. §
2397(c)(2)).
A provider shall not be liable for performing a
procedure on a minor if the provider “reasonably
believed that [the] procedure should be
undertaken immediately and that there was
insufficient time to obtain [parental] informed
consent.” (Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 2397).
The parent or guardian usually has a right to inspect the
minor’s records. (Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 123110(a);
Cal. Civ. Code § 56.10. But see exception at endnote (
EXC.
)).
SKELETAL X-RAY TO
DIAGNOSE CHILD ABUSE OR
NEGLECT*
* The provider does not need the minor’s or her parent’s
consent to perform a procedure under this section.
“A physician and surgeon or dentist or their
agents . . . may take skeletal X-rays of the child
without the consent of the child's parent or
guardian, but only for purposes of diagnosing
the case as one of possible child abuse or neglect
and determining the extent of.” (Cal. Penal Code
§ 11171.2).
Neither the physician-patient privilege nor the psychotherapist-
patient privilege applies to information reported pursuant to this
law in any court proceeding.
MINORS 12 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER MAY CONSENT
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
INFECTIOUS, CONTAGIOUS
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
(DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT)
“A minor who is 12 years of age or older and who
may have come into contact with an infectious,
contagious, or communicable disease may consent
to medical care related to the diagnosis or
treatment of the disease, if the disease… is one that
is required by law…to be reported….” (Cal.
Family Code § 6926).
The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or
legal guardian without the minor’s consent. The provider can
only share the minor’s medical information with them with a
signed authorization from the minor. (Cal. Health & Safety
Code §§ 123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10,
56.11).
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED
DISEASES (PREVENTIVE
CARE, DIAGNOSIS,
TREATMENT)
A minor 12 years of age or older who may have
come into contact with a sexually transmitted
disease may consent to medical care related to
the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of the
disease. (Cal. Family Code § 6926).
© 2014 National Center for Youth Law, revised: Oct. 2014. Available at www.teenhealthlaw.org.
MINORS 12 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER MAY CONSENT
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
AIDS/HIV TESTING AND
TREATMENT
A minor 12 and older is competent to give
written consent for an HIV test. (Cal. Health and
Safety Code § 121020). A minor 12 and older
may consent to medical car related to the
prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
HIV/AIDS. (Cal. Family Code § 6926).
The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or
legal guardian without the minor’s consent. The provider can
only share the minor’s medical information with them with a
signed authorization from the minor. (Cal. Health & Safety
Code §§ 123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10,
56.11).
RAPE SERVICES FOR MINORS
12 and OVER
“A minor who is 12 years of age or older and
who is alleged to have been raped may consent
to medical care related to the diagnosis or
treatment of the condition and the collection of
medical evidence with regard to the alleged
rape.” (Cal. Family Code § 6927).
The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or
legal guardian without the minor’s consent. The provider can
only share the minor’s medical information with them with a
signed authorization from the minor. (Cal. Health & Safety
Code §§ 123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10,
56.11).
RAPE
Rape of a minor is considered child abuse under California law
and mandated reporters, including health care providers, must
report it as such. Providers cannot disclose to parents that they
have made this report without the adolescent’s authorization.
However, adolescent patients should be advised that the child
abuse authorities investigating the report may disclose to
parents that a report was made.
© 2014 National Center for Youth Law, revised: Oct. 2014. Available at www.teenhealthlaw.org.
MINORS 12 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER MAY CONSENT
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
OUTPATIENT MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES
4
/
SHELTER SERVICES
4
This section does not authorize a minor to receive
convulsive therapy, psychosurgery or psychotropic drugs
without the consent of a parent or guardian.
Two statutes give minors the right to consent to
mental health treatment. If a minor meets the
criteria under either statute, the minor may
consent to his or her own treatment. If the minor
meets the criteria under both, the provider may
decide which statute to apply. There are
differences between them. See endnote ** for
more on these differences:
Family Code § 6924
“A minor who is 12 years of age or older may
consent to mental health treatment or counseling
on an outpatient basis or to residential shelter
services, if both of the following requirements
are satisfied:
(1) The minor, in the opinion of the attending
professional person, is mature enough to
participate intelligently in the outpatient services
or residential shelter services. AND
(2) The minor (A) would present a danger of
serious physical or mental harm to self or to
others without the mental health treatment or
counseling or residential shelter services, or (B)
is the alleged victim of incest or child abuse.”
(Cal. Family Code § 6924.)
Health & Safety Code § 124260
“[A] minor who is 12 years of age or older may
consent to [outpatient] mental health treatment
or counseling services if, in the opinion of the
attending professional person, the minor is
mature enough to participate intelligently in the
mental health treatment or counseling services.”
(Cal. Health & Saf. Code § 124260.)
MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT:
The health care provider is required to involve a parent or
guardian in the minor’s treatment unless the health care
provider decides that such involvement is inappropriate. This
decision and any attempts to contact parents must be
documented in the minor’s record. (Cal. Fam. Code § 6924; 45
C.F.R. 164.502(g)(3)(ii).) For services provided under Health
and Safety Code § 124260, providers must consult with the
minor before deciding whether to involve parents. (Cal. Health
& Saf. Code § 124260(a).)
While this exception allows providers to inform and involve
parents in treatment when appropriate, it does not give
providers a right to disclose medical records to parents without
the minor’s authorization. The provider can only share the
minor’s medical records with parents with a signed
authorization from the minor. (Cal. Health & Saf. Code §§
123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10, 56.11,
56.30; Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 5328. See also endnote(
EXC
).)
SHELTER:
Although minor may consent to service, the shelter must use its
best efforts based on information provided by the minor to
notify parent/guardian of shelter services.
© 2011 National Center for Youth Law, revised: Oct. 2011. Available at www.teenhealthlaw.org.
MINORS 12 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER MAY CONSENT
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM A
PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE RELATED
MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
DRUG AND ALCOHOL
ABUSE TREATMENT
• This section does not authorize a
minor to receive replacement
narcotic abuse treatment without
the consent of the minor's parent or
guardian.
• This section does not grant a minor
the right to refuse medical care and
counseling for a drug or alcohol
related problem when the minor’s
parent or guardian consents for that
treatment. (Cal. Family Code §
6929(f)).
“A minor who is 12 years of age or older
may consent to medical care and
counseling relating to the diagnosis and
treatment of a drug or alcohol related
problem.”
(Cal. Family Code §6929(b)).
There are different confidentiality rules under federal and state law.
Providers meeting the criteria listed under ‘federal’ below must follow
the federal rule. Providers that don’t meet these criteria follow state law.
FEDERAL: Federal confidentiality law applies to any individual,
program, or facility that meets the following two criteria:
1. The individual, program, or facility is federally assisted. (Federally
assisted means authorized, certified, licensed or funded in whole or in
part by any department of the federal government. Examples include
programs that are: tax exempt; receiving tax-deductible donations;
receiving any federal operating funds; or registered with
Medicare.)(42 C.F.R. §2.12); AND
2. The individual or program:
1) Is an individual or program that holds itself out as providing
alcohol or drug abuse diagnosis, treatment, or referral; OR
2) Is a staff member at a general medical facility whose primary
function is, and who is identified as, a provider of alcohol or
drug abuse diagnosis, treatment or referral; OR
3) Is a unit at a general medical facility that holds itself out as
providing alcohol or drug abuse diagnosis, treatment or referral.
(42 C.F.R. §2.11; 42 C.F.R. §2.12).
For individuals or programs meeting these criteria, federal law prohibits
disclosing any information to parents without a minor’s written consent.
One exception, however, is that an individual or program may share with
parents if the individual or program director determines the following
three conditions are met: (1) that the minor’s situation poses a substantial
threat to the life or physical well-being of the minor or another; (2) that
this threat may be reduced by communicating relevant facts to the
minor’s parents; and (3) that the minor lacks the capacity because of
extreme youth or a mental or physical condition to make a rational
decision on whether to disclose to her parents. (42 C.F.R. §2.14).
STATE RULE: Cal. Family Code §6929(c). Parallels confidentiality
rule described under “Mental Health Treatment” at page 4 above. See
also exception at endnote (
EXC
).
© 2014 National Center for Youth Law, revised: Oct. 2014. Available at www.teenhealthlaw.org.
MINOR 15 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
GENERAL MEDICAL
CARE
“A minor may consent to the minor's medical
care or dental care if all of the following conditions
are satisfied: (1) The minor is 15 years of age or
older. (2) The minor is living separate and apart
from the minor's parents or guardian, whether with
or without the consent of a parent or guardian and
regardless of the duration of the separate residence.
(3) The minor is managing the minor's own financial
affairs, regardless of the source of the minor's
income.” (Cal. Family Code § 6922(a).)
“A physician and surgeon or dentist may, with or without the
consent of the minor patient, advise the minor's parent or
guardian of the treatment given or needed if the physician and
surgeon or dentist has reason to know, on the basis of the
information given by the minor, the whereabouts of the parent
or guardian.” (Cal. Family Code § 6922(c). See also exception
at endnote (EXC)).
MINOR MUST BE EMANCIPATED
(GENERALLY 14 YEARS OF AGE OR
OLDER)
LAW/DETAILS
MAY/MUST THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INFORM
A PARENT ABOUT THIS CARE OR DISCLOSE
RELATED MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THEM?
GENERAL MEDICAL
CARE for
EMANCIPATED YOUTH
An emancipated minor may consent to
medical, dental and psychiatric care. (Cal.
Family Code § 7050(e)). See Cal. Family
Code § 7002 for emancipation criteria.
The health care provider is not permitted to inform a parent or
legal guardian without minor’s consent. The provider can only
share the minor’s medical information with them with a signed
authorization from the minor. (Cal. Health & Safety Code §§
123110(a), 123115(a)(1); Cal. Civ. Code §§ 56.10, 56.11).
This chart may be reproduced for individual use if accompanied by an acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
* There are many confidentiality and consent rules. Different rules apply in different contexts. This chart addresses the rules that apply when minors live with
their parents or guardians. It does not address the rules that apply when minors are under court jurisdiction or in other special living situations. Further, the
confidentiality section focuses on parent and provider access. It does not address when other people or agencies may have a right to access otherwise
confidential information.
** In addition to having slightly different eligibility criteria, there are other small differences between Health and Safety Code §124260 and Family Code § 6924.
For example, the two laws both allow “professional persons” to deliver minor consent services but the two laws define “professional person” differently.
Also, there is a funding restriction that applies to Health and Safety Code §124260 but not to Family Code § 6924. (See Cal. Family Code 6924, Cal. Health
& Saf. Code § 124260 and Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 14029.8 and look for more information on www.teenhealthlaw.org.).
EXC: Providers may refuse to provide parents access to a minor’s medical records, where a parent normally has a right to them, if “the health care provider
determines that access to the patient records requested by the [parent or guardian] would have a detrimental effect on the provider's professional relationship
with the minor patient or the minor's physical safety or psychological well-being.” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 123115(a)(2). A provider shall not be liable
for any good faith decisions concerning access to a minor’s records. Id.
