North Carolina General Statutes 32A-33. Reliance on authorization to consent to health care for minor
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 32A-33
- Agent: means the person authorized pursuant to this Article to consent to and authorize health care for a minor child. See North Carolina General Statutes 32A-29
- Authorization to consent to health care for minor: means a written instrument, signed by the custodial parent and acknowledged before a notary public, pursuant to which the custodial parent authorizes an agent to authorize and consent to health care for the minor child of the custodial parent, and which substantially meets the requirements of this Article. See North Carolina General Statutes 32A-29
- Custodial parent: means a parent having sole or joint legal custody of that parent's minor child. See North Carolina General Statutes 32A-29
- Health care: means any care, treatment, service or procedure to maintain, diagnose, treat, or provide for a minor child's physical or mental or personal care and comfort, including life sustaining procedures and dental care. See North Carolina General Statutes 32A-29
(a) Any physician, dentist, or other health care provider involved in the health care of a minor child may rely upon the authority of the agent named in a signed and acknowledged authorization to consent to health care for minor in the absence of actual knowledge that the authorization has been revoked or is otherwise invalid.
(b) Any consent to health care for a minor child given by an agent pursuant to an authorization to consent to health care for minor shall have the same effect as if the custodial parent making the authorization were present and acting on behalf of the parent’s minor child. Any physician, dentist, or other health care provider relying in good faith on the authority of an agent shall be protected to the full extent of the power conferred upon the agent, and no person so relying on the authority of the agent shall be liable, by reason of reliance, for actions taken pursuant to a consent of the agent. (1993, c. 150, s. 1.)