Delaware Code § 13-707

Consent to health care of minors
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(a) Definitions. — As used in this section:
(1) "Blood testing" includes Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) testing and other blood testing deemed
necessary by documented history or symptomatology but excludes HIV/AIDS testing and controlled substance testing or any other
testing for which separate court order or informed consent as provided by law is required.
(2) "Medical treatment" means developmental screening, mental health screening and treatment, and ordinary and necessary medical
and dental examination and treatment, including blood testing, preventive care including ordinary immunizations, tuberculin testing and
well-child care. Medical treatment also means the examination and treatment of any laceration, fracture or other traumatic injury, or any
symptom, disease or pathology which may, in the judgment of the treating health care professional, if left untreated, reasonably be
expected to threaten health or life.
(3) "Relative caregiver" or "caregiver" means an adult person, who by blood, marriage or adoption, is the great grandparent,
grandparent, step grandparent, great aunt, aunt, great uncle, uncle, stepparent, brother, sister, step brother, step sister, half brother, half
sister, niece, nephew, first cousin or first cousin once removed of a minor and with whom the minor resides, but who is not the legal
custodian or guardian of the minor.
(b) Parties authorized to give consent. — Consent to the performance upon or for any minor by any licensed medical, surgical, dental,
psychological or osteopathic practitioner or any nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist or any hospital or public clinic or their agents or
employees of any lawful medical treatment, and to the furnishing of hospitalization and other reasonably necessary care in connection

therewith, may be given by:
(1) A parent or guardian of any minor for such minor;
(2) A married minor for such minor or, if such married minor be unable to give consent by reason of disability, then by such minor's
spouse;
(3) A minor of the age of 18 years or more for such minor;
(4) A minor parent for such minor parent's child;
(5) A minor or by any person professing to be serving as temporary custodian of such minor at the request of a parent or guardian of
such minor for the examination and treatment of (i) any laceration, fracture or other traumatic injury suffered by such minor, or (ii) any
symptom, disease or pathology which may, in the judgment of the attending personnel preparing such treatment, if untreated, reasonably
be expected to threaten the health or life of such minor; provided, however, that the consent given shall be effective only after
reasonable efforts shall have been made to obtain the consent of the parent or guardian of said minor; or
(6) A relative caregiver acting pursuant to an Affidavit of Establishment of Power to Relative Caregivers to Consent to Medical
Treatment of Minors.
(c) Effect of consent. — Any consent given by or for a minor pursuant to the authority of any provision of this chapter shall be valid and
effective for all purposes, and, notwithstanding any misrepresentation as to age, status as parent, guardian or custodian or as to marital
status, made to any practitioner, hospital or clinic for purposes of inducing the furnishing of health care to such minor, shall bind such
minor, that minor's parent, spouse, heirs, executors and administrators and shall not be subject to subsequent disaffirmance by reason of
minority.
(d) Liability of persons responsible for medical care. — Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to relieve any practitioner,
hospital, clinic or their agents or employees from liability for negligence in diagnosis, care and treatment or for the performance of any
procedure not reasonably required for the preservation of life or health.

‹ Prev All Delaware sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.