410 ILCS 210/ Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act.

(410 ILCS 210/0.01) (from Ch. 111, par. 4500)

Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Consent by Minors to Health Care Services Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-378, eff. 1-1-18.)

(410 ILCS 210/1) (from Ch. 111, par. 4501)

Sec. 1. Consent by minor. The consent to the performance of a health care service by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a chiropractic physician, a licensed optometrist, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant executed by a married person who is a minor, by a parent who is a minor, by a pregnant woman who is a minor, or by any person 18 years of age or older, is not voidable because of such minority, and, for such purpose, a married person who is a minor, a parent who is a minor, a pregnant woman who is a minor, or any person 18 years of age or older, is deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and has the same powers and obligations as has a person of legal age.

(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 100-378, eff. 1-1-18; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(410 ILCS 210/1.5)

Sec. 1.5. Consent by minor seeking care for limited primary care services.

(a) The consent to the performance of primary care services by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, a licensed physician assistant, a chiropractic physician, or a licensed optometrist executed by a minor seeking care is not voidable because of such minority, and for such purpose, a minor seeking care is deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and has the same powers and obligations as has a person of legal age under the following circumstances:

(1) the health care professional reasonably believes that the minor seeking care understands the benefits and risks of any proposed primary care or services; and

(2) the minor seeking care is identified in writing as a minor seeking care by:

(A) an adult relative;

(B) a representative of a homeless service agency that receives federal, State, county, or municipal funding to provide those services or that is otherwise sanctioned by a local continuum of care;

(C) an attorney licensed to practice law in this State;

(D) a public school homeless liaison or school social worker;

(E) a social service agency providing services to at risk, homeless, or runaway youth; or

(F) a representative of a religious organization.

(b) A health care professional rendering primary care services under this Section shall not incur civil or criminal liability for failure to obtain valid consent or professional discipline for failure to obtain valid consent if he or she relied in good faith on the representations made by the minor or the information provided under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Section. Under such circumstances, good faith shall be presumed.

(c) The confidential nature of any communication between a health care professional described in Section 1 of this Act and a minor seeking care is not waived (1) by the presence, at the time of communication, of any additional persons present at the request of the minor seeking care, (2) by the health care professional's disclosure of confidential information to the additional person with the consent of the minor seeking care, when reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose for which the additional person is consulted, or (3) by the health care professional billing a health benefit insurance or plan under which the minor seeking care is insured, is enrolled, or has coverage for the services provided.

(d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit or expand a minor's existing powers and obligations under any federal, State, or local law. Nothing in this Section affects the right or authority of a parent or legal guardian to verbally, in writing, or otherwise authorize health care services to be provided for a minor in their absence.

(e) For the purposes of this Section:

"Minor seeking care" means a person at least 14 years of age but less than 18 years of age who is living separate and apart from his or her parents or legal guardian, whether with or without the consent of a parent or legal guardian who is unable or unwilling to return to the residence of a parent, and managing his or her own personal affairs. "Minor seeking care" does not include minors who are under the protective custody, temporary custody, or guardianship of the Department of Children and Family Services.

"Primary care services" means health care services that include screening, counseling, immunizations, medication, and treatment of illness and conditions customarily provided by licensed health care professionals in an out-patient setting, eye care services, excluding advanced optometric procedures, provided by optometrists, and services provided by chiropractic physicians according to the scope of practice of chiropractic physicians under the Medical Practice Act of 1987. "Primary care services" does not include invasive care, beyond standard injections, laceration care, or non-surgical fracture care.

(Source: P.A. 102-1117, eff. 1-13-23.)

(410 ILCS 210/2) (from Ch. 111, par. 4502)

Sec. 2. Any parent, including a parent who is a minor, may consent to the performance upon his or her child of a health care service by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a chiropractic physician, a licensed optometrist, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant or a dental procedure by a licensed dentist. The consent of a parent who is a minor shall not be voidable because of such minority, but, for such purpose, a parent who is a minor shall be deemed to have the same legal capacity to act and shall have the same powers and obligations as has a person of legal age.

A parent who consents to the performance upon the parent's child of a health care service under this Section shall be entitled, upon request, to inspect and copy the part of that child's records related to the specific health care service for which the parent is treated as the child's personal representative under HIPAA, 45 CFR 164.502(g). For purposes of this Section, each appointment, referral, test, treatment, procedure, or other medical intervention is a separate and distinct health care service for the purpose of determining whether a parent is treated as the child's personal representative under HIPAA, 45 CFR 164.502(g), with respect to that health care service.

(Source: P.A. 103-474, eff. 1-1-24.)

(410 ILCS 210/3) (from Ch. 111, par. 4503)

Sec. 3. (a) Where a hospital, a physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, a chiropractic physician, a licensed optometrist, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed physician assistant renders emergency treatment or first aid or a licensed dentist renders emergency dental treatment to a minor, consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian need not be obtained if, in the sole opinion of the physician, chiropractic physician, optometrist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, dentist, or hospital, the obtaining of consent is not reasonably feasible under the circumstances without adversely affecting the condition of such minor's health.

(b) Where a minor is the victim of a predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse or criminal sexual abuse, as provided in Sections 11-1.20 through 11-1.60 of the Criminal Code of 2012, the consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian need not be obtained to authorize a hospital, physician, chiropractic physician, optometrist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or other medical personnel to furnish health care services or counseling related to the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or injury arising from such offense. The minor may consent to such counseling, diagnosis or treatment as if the minor had reached his or her age of majority. Such consent shall not be voidable, nor subject to later disaffirmance, because of minority.

(Source: P.A. 99-173, eff. 7-29-15; 100-378, eff. 1-1-18; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(410 ILCS 210/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 4504)

Sec. 4. Sexually transmitted disease; drug or alcohol abuse. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a minor 12 years of age or older who may have come into contact with any sexually transmitted disease, or may be determined to be an intoxicated person or a person with a substance use disorder, as defined in the Substance Use Disorder Act, or who may have a family member who abuses drugs or alcohol, may give consent to the furnishing of health care services or counseling related to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of the disease. Each incident of sexually transmitted disease shall be reported to the State Department of Public Health or the local board of health in accordance with regulations adopted under statute or ordinance. The consent of the parent, parents, or legal guardian of a minor shall not be necessary to authorize health care services or counseling related to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of sexually transmitted disease or drug use or alcohol consumption by the minor or the effects on the minor of drug or alcohol abuse by a member of the minor's family. The consent of the minor shall be valid and binding as if the minor had achieved his or her majority. The consent shall not be voidable nor subject to later disaffirmance because of minority.

Anyone involved in the furnishing of health services care to the minor or counseling related to the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of the minor's disease or drug or alcohol use by the minor or a member of the minor's family shall, upon the minor's consent, make reasonable efforts, to involve the family of the minor in his or her treatment, if the person furnishing treatment believes that the involvement of the family will not be detrimental to the progress and care of the minor. Reasonable effort shall be extended to assist the minor in accepting the involvement of his or her family in the care and treatment being given.

(Source: P.A. 100-378, eff. 1-1-18; 100-759, eff. 1-1-19; 101-214, eff. 1-1-20.)

(410 ILCS 210/5) (from Ch. 111, par. 4505)

Sec. 5. Counseling; informing parent or guardian. Any physician licensed to practice medicine in all its branches, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant, who provides diagnosis or treatment or any licensed clinical psychologist or professionally trained social worker with a master's degree or any qualified person employed (i) by an organization licensed or funded by the Department of Human Services, (ii) by units of local government, or (iii) by agencies or organizations operating drug abuse programs funded or licensed by the Federal Government or the State of Illinois or any qualified person employed by or associated with any public or private alcoholism or drug abuse program licensed by the State of Illinois who provides counseling to a minor patient who has come into contact with any sexually transmitted disease referred to in Section 4 of this Act may, but shall not be obligated to, inform the parent, parents, or guardian of the minor as to the treatment given or needed. Any person described in this Section who provides counseling to a minor who abuses drugs or alcohol or has a family member who abuses drugs or alcohol shall not inform the parent, parents, guardian, or other responsible adult of the minor's condition or treatment without the minor's consent unless that action is, in the person's judgment, necessary to protect the safety of the minor, a family member, or another individual.

Any such person shall, upon the minor's consent, make reasonable efforts to involve the family of the minor in his or her treatment, if the person furnishing the treatment believes that the involvement of the family will not be detrimental to the progress and care of the minor. Reasonable effort shall be extended to assist the minor in accepting the involvement of his or her family in the care and treatment being given.

(Source: P.A. 100-378, eff. 1-1-18; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18; 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)