title: Access to health care: Louisiana minor consent statutes.
abstract: The Louisiana minor's consent statutes enable minors to consent for medical treatment, emergency treatment, treatment of sexually-transmitted diseases, and treatment of substance abuse. The legislative intent for permitting minors to consent to treatment without the express consent of a parent or guardian was to provide minors access to high-quality health care services in order to encourage the betterment of the health and welfare of the citizens of our state. A minor cannot consent for an abortion or sterilization. The statutes do not allow a minor to refuse treatment consented to by his parent or guardian. However, needed medical treatment can be provided to a consenting minor over the objections of a parent or guardian. Where a minor can consent, confidentiality from parent's or guardian's knowledge is permitted but not assured; confidentiality is granted at the discretion of the physician or medical staff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Abdalian
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Abdalian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003219:Confidentiality; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008145:Louisiana; D020458:Third-Party Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D016312:Treatment Refusal