Biomaterial Database

Third-party consent to medical procedures. 1982

S Hayes, and R Hayes

The issue of consent to medical procedures is a particularly complex one when the patient is incapable of giving valid consent (because of age, mental disability, or physical state). A medical practitioner who proceeds with treatment without valid consent may be liable to legal action or disciplinary proceedings. Third-party consent can be given by parents legally appointed guardians. Consent is not required if emergency treatment is necessary to preserve the life of the patient. It is extremely doubtful whether valid third-party consent can be given for procedures which are not essential for the preservation of life or health.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007258	Informed Consent	Voluntary authorization, by a patient or research subject, with full comprehension of the risks involved, for diagnostic or investigative procedures, and for medical and surgical treatment.	Consent, Informed
D007872	Legal Guardians	A legal concept for individuals who are designated to act on behalf of persons who are considered incapable of acting in their own behalf, e.g., minors and persons found to be not mentally competent.	Guardian, Legal,Guardians, Legal,Legal Guardian
D010290	Parents	Persons functioning as natural, adoptive, or substitute parents. The heading includes the concept of parenthood as well as preparation for becoming a parent.	Step-Parents,Parental Age,Parenthood Status,Stepparent,Age, Parental,Ages, Parental,Parent,Parental Ages,Status, Parenthood,Step Parents,Step-Parent,Stepparents
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002651	Child Advocacy	Promotion and protection of the rights of children; frequently through a legal process.	Advocacies, Child,Advocacy, Child,Child Advocacies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001315	Australia	The smallest continent and an independent country, comprising six states and two territories. Its capital is Canberra.	Canton and Enderbury Islands,Christmas Island,Christmas Island (Australia)
D001523	Mental Disorders	Psychiatric illness or diseases manifested by breakdowns in the adaptational process expressed primarily as abnormalities of thought, feeling, and behavior producing either distress or impairment of function.	Mental Illness,Psychiatric Diseases,Psychiatric Disorders,Psychiatric Illness,Behavior Disorders,Diagnosis, Psychiatric,Mental Disorders, Severe,Psychiatric Diagnosis,Illness, Mental,Mental Disorder,Mental Disorder, Severe,Mental Illnesses,Psychiatric Disease,Psychiatric Disorder,Psychiatric Illnesses,Severe Mental Disorder,Severe Mental Disorders
D033242	Minors	A person who has not attained the age at which full civil rights are accorded.	Minor
D033282	Parental Consent	Informed consent given by a parent on behalf of a minor or otherwise incompetent child.	Consent, Parental