Medical Consent for a Minor
Let a grandparent, babysitter, coach or other trusted adult approve medical care for your child when you cannot be reached, with your child's health details in one place.
Includes 30 days of edits
- 5 to 20 minutes
- Print-ready PDF
What is a Medical Consent for a Minor?
A medical consent form for a minor is a signed authorization from a parent or legal guardian that lets another adult consent to medical, dental or other health care for a child under 18. Doctors and hospitals generally need a parent's permission before treating a child, except in true emergencies, so this form fills the gap when you are traveling, working away from home or otherwise hard to reach.
You choose how far the authority goes: emergency care only, routine and emergency care, or broader treatment recommended by the child's providers. You can list types of care that are covered or excluded, require the caregiver to try to reach you first, allow providers to share medical information with the caregiver and say who pays.
The form also gathers the information a caregiver or emergency room needs quickly: insurance details, the child's doctor, allergies, medications and medical conditions. It does not transfer custody or other parental rights, and you can revoke it at any time.
When to use it
- Your child is staying with grandparents, relatives or friends while you travel.
- A babysitter, nanny or au pair cares for your child regularly while you work.
- Your child is attending a camp, sports program or school trip and the organizer asks for medical authorization.
- You share custody and want the other household's partner or relatives to be able to act in an emergency.
- You will be hard to reach for a period of time because of work, military service or a medical procedure.
What is included
- Details of each child covered
- Parents or guardians granting consent and a custody statement
- Authorized caregiver and an optional alternate
- Scope of authority: emergency only, routine and emergency, or comprehensive
- Covered types of care and any exclusions
- Duty to contact the parent first and permission to share medical records
- Payment responsibility
- Insurance, physician, allergy, medication and condition details
- Effective dates, revocation and third-party reliance
- Signatures with optional witness and notary blocks
How to make your Child Medical Consent
Answer the questions
Tell us about the parties and the terms you want. Most documents take about 5 to 20 minutes.
Review the preview
Check the draft as you go and change any answer. The document updates instantly.
Download, sign and keep a copy
Download a print-ready PDF, sign it with the other parties, and give everyone a copy.
Frequently asked questions
Who can I authorize to consent to my child's medical care?
Usually any responsible adult you trust, such as a grandparent, relative, stepparent, family friend, nanny, coach or camp director. Choose someone who will be physically with your child, can make calm decisions and is willing to follow your instructions.
Do hospitals have to accept this form?
Hospitals and doctors decide for themselves whether a document gives them enough assurance of consent, and some have their own forms. A clear, signed and notarized authorization with your contact information is commonly accepted. In a genuine emergency, providers can generally give necessary care to a child even without consent.
Does the form need to be notarized?
Most states do not require a medical consent for a minor to be notarized, but notarization helps prove that the signature is genuine and many providers and organizations prefer it. You can also include witness signatures.
Should both parents sign?
Generally one parent with legal custody can authorize medical care, but having both parents sign avoids questions, especially if the parents live apart. If a court order gives one parent sole medical decision-making authority, that parent should sign and keep a copy of the order handy.
How long does a medical consent form last?
As long as you choose. You can tie it to specific dates, such as a trip or camp session, or make it effective until you revoke it. Many people prefer a defined period and sign a new form for each trip, because providers may question an authorization that is several years old.
Can the caregiver see my child's medical records?
Only if you allow it. This form can authorize providers to share health information with the caregiver as needed for treatment. Federal privacy rules allow providers to share information with a person who has authority to make health care decisions for a minor, but providers may still ask for their own release form.
Is this the same as a power of attorney for a child?
No. A medical consent form covers health care only. A power of attorney for a child can delegate broader parental authority, such as school enrollment and day-to-day decisions, and is subject to more state rules about duration and formalities.
How do I cancel the authorization?
Tell the caregiver in writing that you are revoking it, ask for the signed copies back, and notify any doctor, school or camp that has a copy. The authorization also ends automatically on the end date you choose.
