Important Information to Parents and Guardians of Minor Children
The providers and staff of Miller Family Dermatology place great emphasis on the health and well being of each and every patient in our clinic and we appreciate that you have entrusted us to provide health care services to your minor child. We look forward to working with you to ensure that your child receives the best health care possible.
As a general rule, we require the consent of a parent or legal guardian in order to provide health care services to a minor child (an unmarried person under the age of 18). With so many parents working outside the home or with other commitments, we realize that you may not be able to accompany your child on every visit to the clinic. We require that a parent or legal guardian accompany your child to his or her first visit at our clinic. If your minor child presents to the clinic unaccompanied or in the company of an adult other than a parent or legal guardian, we may need to reschedule the appointment.
With so many parents working outside the home or with other commitments, we realize that you may not be able to accompany your child on every visit to the clinic. In an effort to provide the care needed in the most convenient and efficient way possible, we have developed an Advance Consent to Treat Minors form that, once completed by a parent or legal guardian, will be placed in your child’s medical record for use as necessary during any subsequent visits. This form will allow us to provide routine and emergency medical treatment for your minor child when deemed necessary by qualified medical personnel. This consent form will remain in effect until revoked in writing. You may request this form from any member of our clinic staff.
Under Washington State law, minors have the right to consent to certain health care without a parent or guardian’s consent. A minor may consent to medical care:
If the minor is emancipated (legally independent) or married to someone at or above age 18. • _(RCW 26.28.020)
In the event emergency care is necessary. (When impractical to get parental consent first)• _
For birth control and pregnancy-related care at any age. (See State v. Koome)• _
For outpatient drug- and alcohol-abuse treatment beginning at age 13. (RCW 70.96A.095)• _
For outpatient mental health treatment beginning at age 13.(RCW 71.34.500 and 71.34.530)• _
For sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, beginning at age 14. (RCW • _70.24.110)
If a minor consents to care as allowed by law, he or she can request confidentiality for that aspect of care which would prohibit us from releasing this information to anyone, including a parent or guardian, without the minor’s express written permission.
It is the philosophy of this clinic to encourage minor patients to include a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult in all aspects of their health care including those areas noted above. For legal and other reasons, parent or guardian involvement may not always be possible. Rest assured that we would continue to provide health care services that are in the best interests of your minor child.
If you have questions regarding any of this information, please contact us at 425-654-1275.
