HB246 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben Harrison Representative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Consent to medical treatment; age of medical majority, established at 18; circumstances in which a minor may receive medical treatment, revised

Description

Under existing law, a minor who is at least 14 years of age or a minor who has graduated from high school or is married, divorced, or pregnant may give legal consent to medical, dental, and mental health services for himself or herself.

Under existing law, a minor may receive medical, dental, or mental health treatment that would otherwise require the consent of a parent or legal guardian if a delay in treatment would increase the risk to the minor's life, health, or mental health.

Under existing law, any minor may give legal consent to participate in school counseling services, to donate bone marrow, or for services to determine the presence of, or to treat, pregnancy, venereal disease, drug dependency, and alcohol toxicity.

Also under existing law, the parent or legal guardian of a minor who is at least 14 years of age but less than 19 years of age may authorize treatment for mental health services, even upon the minor's refusal, in certain circumstances.

This bill would create the age of medical majority and provide that a minor has reached the age of medical majority if he or she is 18 years of age or older, has graduated from high school, has earned a HB246 INTRODUCED GED, is married, or is divorced.

This bill would provide that a minor may only consent to medical, dental, or mental health services, including school counseling services, the donation of bone marrow, and the detection or treatment of pregnancy, venereal disease, drug dependency, and alcohol toxicity, if he or she has reached the age of medical majority.

This bill would provide that a minor may only receive medical, dental, or mental health treatment that would otherwise require the consent of a parent or legal guardian if a delay in treatment would result in death or permanent injury of the minor.

This bill would also authorize the parent or legal guardian of a minor who has not reached the age of medical majority to authorize certain treatment for mental health services, even upon the minor's refusal.

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Subjects

Health