Free Child Medical Consent

Child Medical Consent FAQs

What is a child medical consent?

A child medical consent form is a document that parents or legal guardians use to grant another adult the authority to make medical decisions for a minor child.

Who should be appointed to make medical decision for your child?

Any adult who is 18 years of age or older can be appointed to make medical decisions on your behalf. You should consider individuals who is responsible, who has the child’s well-being in mind, and who will also respect your beliefs relating to the child’s medical treatment. Some typical examples of temporary guardian that can be used to make medical decisions for your child are:

• The child’s grandparent
• The child’s aunt or uncle
• A long time family friend
• The child’s babysitter or nanny

When do you use a child medical consent?

A child medical consent is generally used when the parents or legal guardians will be away from the minor child for an extended period. Once it’s signed, the supervising adult that is appointed can make medical decision on behalf of the child. Typically, a child medical consent is used when the parents or legal guardians are away for work or travel, or when the child is staying with supervising adult for an extended period such as summer camps or staying with relatives during holidays.

What should be included in the child medical consent?

The child medical consent form should contain all the pertinent information demonstrating the parent’s intention in granting another adult the authority to make medical decision for the minor child. It should cover the basic details:

• The parent’s full name, address and phone number.
• The minor child’s full name, pertinent health information such as allergies and any special medical needs, and any health insurance coverage when applicable.
• The adult temporary guardian’s full name and phone number who is granted the authority to make medical decisions in the parents’ absence.
• List the types of consent the temporary guardian can authorize, such as whether the child can accept blood transfusion, or experimental drug treatments etc.
• The full name and contact information for the child’s doctor when applicable.
• A time duration to the child medical consent listing the start date and end date. If there is no end date to the child medical consent, the authority granted to the temporary guardian will be valid until it is revoked by the parents or legal guardians at a later date.

Do parents need to use both a child medical consent and child travel consent?

A child travel consent only grants the child the authority to travel alone or with another adult and does not cover any medical treatments. While it is not required to use a child medical consent, it is often used together along with a child travel consent when a minor child is traveling without the parents or legal guardians. It would be prudent to use both notarized documents so your child will not encounter any delay in treatment for any medical emergency during your absence.

Can a child medical consent be withdrawn once it’s in place?

Yes. You may revoke the consent at any time by giving written notice to the temporary guardian and, when possible, to any medical providers who have been given the form. Keeping a copy of the revocation for your records is important to avoid any misunderstandings in an emergency.

Is it necessary to have a child medical consent notarized?

Notarization is not always a legal requirement, but it is strongly advised. Having the document notarized verifies the signature and can help ensure the form is readily accepted by hospitals, clinics, schools, and other organizations.

For how long does a child medical consent remain effective?

The length of time depends on the dates you specify in the document. You may choose a defined start and end date, or have the consent remain in force until you decide to cancel it. It’s best to align the validity period with your child’s planned activities or travel arrangements.

Is it possible to list more than one temporary guardian?

Yes. You can authorize multiple adults to make medical decisions for your child. This is useful if your child will be spending time with different caregivers. Be sure to make it clear whether each guardian has the same decision-making authority or if certain matters require a specific person.

Will a child medical consent be honored in another state or overseas?

In most cases, a properly completed child medical consent will be recognized across state lines, but specific rules can differ. For international travel, check the requirements of the destination country, as some may require additional paperwork, notarization, or translations.

What jurisdictions can use our child medical consent form?

You can use our template to create a legal and valid child medical consent form for the following jurisdictions: