Medical Rights of Minors in Michigan

Minors in Michigan (that is, anyone under the age of 18) have more rights today than ever before. An important part of those rights involve being able to help make decisions about their own medical treatment. This is still considered a debatable topic, as medical treatments for minors often involve controversial issues like abortion and sexually transmitted diseases.

Consent

• In Michigan, minors can consent to a number of medical services without the permission of their parents. These services include the diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases, providing outpatient mental health care, providing contraceptives, the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse and prenatal care. Michigan law does, however, require parental consent before a minor can have an abortion.

Privacy

• Michigan minors may be entitled to certain privacies in their medical care, but that privacy remains limited. State law grants health care providers the option of sharing information with parents, usually if it is considered necessary for medical reasons. But this necessity is still based on the provider's discretion and is, therefore, up to the facility to decide whether or not to release the minor's information to his parent or guardian.

Informing Parents

• While Michigan law allows a minor to receive prenatal care and treatment for venereal diseases without parental consent, it does not state that the care shall remain discrete from the minor's parents. Health facilities that provide these types of care and treatments are expected to inform the minor that their parents may be notified. However, providers are entitled to withhold this information from parents or release it to parents whether or not the minor objects.

Amend a Record

• In the state of Michigan, an emancipated minor holds the right to amend his own medical record. On the same note, when a minor legally consents to certain kinds of medical treatment, namely venereal disease, he also retains the right to amend any records related to that treatment. In such instances, it is important for the minor to first identify the part of his record he believes to be inaccurate. From there, he should notify the provider who recorded the potentially flawed information. In some situations, a minor may be required to fill out a form for requesting an amendment.