§ 16-36-1-3.5 — Consent by pregnant minor for pregnancy health care; contacting minor's parent or guardian

Indiana § 16-36-1-3.5

• Jurisdiction: Indiana
• Title 16: HEALTH
• Art. 36: MEDICAL CONSENT
• Ch. 1: Health Care Consent

Text

5. (a) This section does not apply to consent
to the provision of an abortion or completion of a POST form.
(b) A minor who:
(1) is at least sixteen (16) years of age; and
(2) is:
(A) pregnant;
(B) in labor; or
(C) postpartum for a sixty (60) day period after the birth;
is competent to give consent for the minor's medical or hospital care
and treatment with respect to the pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum
care of the minor.
(c) Before a health care provider may provide care to a minor
described in subsection (b), the health care provider shall, before or at
the initial appointment for treatment, make a reasonable effort to
contact the minor's parent or guardian for consent to provide the
treatment and document in writing each attempt the health care
provider made to contact the parent or guardian of the minor. If, after
the health care provider has made a reasonable attempt to contact the
minor's parent or guardian before or at the initial appointment for
treatment, either:
(1) the health care provider is unable to make contact; or
(2) the parent or guardian of the minor refuses to provide consent
for treatment;
the health care provider shall act in the manner that is in the best
interests of the minor and the fetus.
(d) If, after the initial appointment or treatment, the health care
provider determines that additional care is in the best interest of the
minor and the fetus, the health care provider shall make one (1)
additional attempt to contact the parent or guardian of the minor for
consent, if applicable, before:
(1) the provision of prenatal care;
(2) the delivery of the baby; and
(3) the provision of postpartum care.

Legislative History

As added by P.L.139-2019, SEC.2.