Can a minor consent to rape crisis treatment on his or her own?
Yes. An adolescent sexual assault survivor can consent to all components of sexual assault care. Although generally, minors cannot obtain health care services without parental consent, the New York Legislature and the United States Supreme Court have carved out several notable exceptions to this general rule. Thus, minors in New York who can give informed consent (i.e., who understand the risks and benefits of the proposed and alternative treatments) [[5] 5] can consent to contraceptive services, including EC; [[6] 6] abortions; [[7] 7] pregnancy care; [[8] 8] mental health care in most circumstances; [[9] 9] STI testing and treatment; [[10] 10] and HIV testing [[11] 11] without parental involvement. In addition, minors in New York may consent to rape crisis counseling [[12] 12] and forensic evidence collection. [[13] 13] Providers cannot require parental consent or disclosure for other parts of the sexual assault services, such as treatment of related injuries. [[14] 14] Requiring par
Related Questions
- Must a hospital or health care provider report the rape or rape crisis treatment of a minor to a child protective services agency?
- Must a hospital or health care provider report the rape or rape crisis treatment of a minor to the minors parents?
- When a minor consents to rape crisis treatment, must it be confidential?
