Are exceptions to parental permission allowed when the subjects are older adolescents?
Adolescents legally defined as emancipated are permitted to participate in research without their parents’ permission. Under some circumstances, such as when research focuses on services for which parental permission is not required, older minors might be able to consent for themselves. The IRB will determine for each project requesting such an exception if it may be allowed, and may require that you document for each case the reason for not being able to obtain parental permission. Decision Tree IV at the end of this section summarizes consent requirements for various types of research participants who may not be able give consent for themselves.
