From the Guidelines
For a child with a fracture accompanied by their aunt, consent should be obtained from the parents or legal guardians before treating the child, as they are the ones with the legal authority to provide informed consent. In emergency situations involving minors, healthcare providers should obtain informed consent from the child's legal guardian or parent before performing non-emergent procedures like bone setting, as stated in the study by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics 1. While an aunt may accompany the child, she typically does not have legal authority to provide consent for medical treatment unless she has been designated as a legal guardian. The child cannot provide consent as minors are not legally capable of giving informed consent for medical procedures.
Key Considerations
- The child's parents or legal guardians should be contacted to obtain informed consent before treating the child, unless it is a life-threatening emergency situation.
- The aunt, or any other accompanying adult, does not have the legal authority to provide consent for medical treatment unless they have been designated as a legal guardian.
- The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics recommends that fully informed consent must be obtained from the parents 1.
- The guidelines for monitoring and management of pediatric patients before, during, and after sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures also emphasize the importance of having a responsible person, preferably a parent or legal guardian, accompany the child to and from the treatment facility 1.
Emergency Situations
In situations where delay would risk significant harm, treatment could proceed under implied consent doctrine, but in non-emergent situations, making reasonable efforts to contact the parents is the appropriate course of action. This approach respects parental rights and legal requirements while ensuring the child receives necessary care in accordance with medical ethics and law. Therefore, the most appropriate course of action is to obtain consent from the parents or legal guardians before treating the child.
From the Research
Consent for Treating a Child with a Fracture
When a child is accompanied by their aunt, the question arises as to from whom consent should be obtained before treating the child for a fracture.
- The provided studies do not directly address the issue of consent for treating a child with a fracture when accompanied by their aunt 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, one study discusses the importance of informed consent in medical interventions, suggesting that it is often seen as a bureaucratic hurdle and that patients may not be in an appropriate epistemic state to make informed decisions 6.
- The same study argues that obtaining informed consent should be the responsibility of nurses rather than physicians, as nurses are often in a better position to assess a patient's understanding and comfort level 6.
- In the context of a child accompanied by their aunt, it can be inferred that consent should be obtained from a parent or legal guardian, as they are typically considered the decision-makers for a child's medical care.
- If the parent or legal guardian is not present, it may be necessary to contact them to obtain consent before treating the child for a fracture.