"Navigating Healthcare Choices: A Guide to Medical Decision-Making for Minors Aged 14-17"

Minors aged 14 to 17, who are under 18 years old, have the legal right to give their own consent for necessary healthcare decisions related to their well-being. This includes the option to have an abortion, which is typically considered a necessary healthcare measure. Therefore, if a 14-year-old girl seeks an abortion, she is not required to obtain permission from her parents.

Parents or legal guardians (officially known as "tutors") of minors aged 14 to 17 are not notified when the minors receive necessary healthcare services. However, there is an exception to this policy. If the minor is required to stay in a healthcare or social services institution for more than 12 hours, the parents or legal guardians will be informed of the minor's admission to the institution.

Healthcare Measures Unrelated to a Child's Health Condition

Minors aged 14 to 17 have the authority to make decisions independently about healthcare measures that are not necessary for their overall health. However, there is one exception to this policy. If the healthcare service poses a serious risk to the minor's health and may lead to severe and permanent side effects, the permission of the minor's parents or legal guardians is required.

For instance, if a 14-year-old seeks non-medically necessary rhinoplasty (nose surgery), parental consent is necessary as it involves a significant risk to the minor's health and can cause severe and permanent side effects, despite not being essential for the minor's well-being.

Well-being of the Minor

In the case of healthcare decisions for minors aged 14 to 17, parents or legal guardians are solely permitted to consider the best interests of the child. Additionally, they are required to consider the child's preferences to the fullest extent possible.

Entitlement to Decline Healthcare

Minors aged 14 to 17 possess the right to decline any form of healthcare, regardless of whether it is essential or non-essential to their health. Nevertheless, if the parents or legal guardians disagree with the minor's decision to refuse healthcare, and desire the minor to receive the healthcare anyway, they must seek permission from a judge.

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