Treating the Infant of a Minor

TREATING A SICK NEWBORN IS challenging under any circumstances, but treating the infant of a minor parent can be doubly so because of the uncertain capacity of an immature parent to understand the condition and necessary care of the child. This situation could lead to potential challenges as to the validity of the minor's consent and a possible claim in a lawsuit. In addition, the infant's grandparents and parents may have differing opinions regarding care, leading to conflict between the decision makers. Therefore, having a working knowledge of your state's laws and your facility's policies regarding the authority or right of a minor to consent to treatment of the minor's child is important when obtaining consent and a valuable tool in your arsenal against lawsuits.