What is the Age of Majority in Connecticut?
Full Question:
My 16 year old friend suspects that she is pregnant. We live in Connecticut. She doesn’t want her parents to know of this. Can she consult a doctor without her parents’ consent?
04/07/2017 |
Category: Minors » Age of Major... |
State: Connecticut |
#35313
Answer:
A person under the age of 18 years is a minor under Connecticut law. However, the law recognize various exceptions to this general rule. For e.g., a person above the age of 16 years may obtain driver’s license, and a person above the age of 15 years may enter into contract for life, health or accident insurance.
However, Connecticut law permits a minor to receive treatment for venereal diseases without notifying his/her parents in certain circumstances. Likewise, a minor may consult a physician in relation to her pregnancy, without informing her parents.
The relevant law relating to Age of Majority in Connecticut is set out below:
C.G.S. § 1-1d. “Minor”, “infant”, “infancy”, “age of majority”, defined
Except as otherwise provided by statute, on and after October 1, 1972, the terms “minor”, “infant” and “infancy” shall be deemed to refer to a person under the age of eighteen years and any person eighteen years of age or over shall be an adult for all purposes whatsoever and have the same legal capacity, rights, powers, privileges, duties, liabilities and responsibilities as persons heretofore had at twenty-one years of age, and “age of majority” shall be deemed to be eighteen years.
C.G.S. § 14-36
(c) Youth instruction permit. (1) A person who is sixteen or seventeen years of age and who has not had a motor vehicle operator's license or right to operate a motor vehicle in this state suspended or revoked may apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for a youth instruction permit. The commissioner may issue a youth instruction permit to an applicant after the applicant has passed a vision screening and test as to knowledge of the laws concerning motor vehicles and the rules of the road, has paid the fee required by subsection (v) of section 14-49 and has filed a certificate, in such form as the commissioner prescribes, requesting or consenting to the issuance of the youth instruction permit and the motor vehicle operator's license, signed by (A) one or both parents or foster parents of the applicant, as the commissioner requires, (B) the legal guardian of the applicant, (C) the applicant's spouse, if the spouse is eighteen years of age or older, or (D) if the applicant has no qualified spouse and such applicant's parent or foster parent or legal guardian is deceased, incapable, domiciled without the state or otherwise unavailable or unable to sign or file the certificate, the applicant's stepparent, grandparent, or uncle or aunt by blood or marriage, provided such person is eighteen years of age or older. The commissioner may, for the more efficient administration of the commissioner's duties, appoint any drivers' school licensed in accordance with the provisions of section 14-69 or any secondary school providing instruction in motor vehicle operation and highway safety in accordance with section 14-36e to issue a youth instruction permit, subject to such standards and requirements as the commissioner may prescribe in regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54.1 Each youth instruction permit shall expire two years from the date of issuance, on the date the holder of the permit is issued a motor vehicle operator's license or on the date the holder attains the age of eighteen years, whichever is earlier. (2) The youth instruction permit shall entitle the holder, while such holder has the permit in his or her immediate possession, to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways, provided such holder is under the instruction of, and accompanied by, a person who holds an instructor's license issued under the provisions of section 14-73 or a person twenty years of age or older who has been licensed to operate, for at least four years preceding the instruction, a motor vehicle of the same class as the motor vehicle being operated and who has not had his or her motor vehicle operator's license suspended by the commissioner during the four-year period preceding the instruction. (3) Unless the holder of the permit is under the instruction of and accompanied by a person who holds an instructor's license issued under the provisions of section 14-73, no passenger in addition to the person providing instruction shall be transported unless such passenger is a parent or legal guardian of the holder of the permit. (4) The holder of a youth instruction permit who (A) is an active member of a certified ambulance service, as defined in section 19a-175, (B) has commenced an emergency vehicle operator's course that conforms to the national standard curriculum developed by the United States Department of Transportation, and (C) has had state and national criminal history records checks conducted by the certified ambulance service or by the municipality in which such ambulance service is provided, shall be exempt from the provisions of subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection only when such holder is en route to or from the location of the ambulance for purposes of responding to an emergency call. (5) The commissioner may revoke any youth instruction permit used in violation of the limitations imposed by subdivision (2) or (3) of this subsection.
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C.G.S. § 38a-284. Insurance contracts by minors
Any minor of the age of fifteen years or more may, notwithstanding such minority, contract for life, health and accident insurance on such minor's person for such minor's benefit or for the benefit of such minor's father, mother, spouse, child, brother or sister and may exercise all such contractual rights with respect to any such contract of insurance as might be exercised by a person of full legal age and may at any time surrender such minor's interest in any such insurance or give a valid discharge for any benefit accruing or money payable thereunder.
C.G.S. § 19a-592. Testing and treatment of minor for HIV or AIDS. Confidentiality. Liability for costs
(a) Any licensed physician or advanced practice registered nurse may examine and provide treatment for human immunodeficiency virus infection, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome for a minor, only with the consent of the parents or guardian of the minor unless the physician or advanced practice registered nurse determines that notification of the parents or guardian of the minor will result in treatment being denied or the physician or advanced practice registered nurse determines the minor will not seek, pursue or continue treatment if the parents or guardian are notified and the minor requests that his or her parents or guardian not be notified. The physician or advanced practice registered nurse shall fully document the reasons for the determination to provide treatment without the consent or notification of the parents or guardian of the minor and shall include such documentation, signed by the minor, in the minor's clinical record. The fact of consultation, examination and treatment of a minor under the provisions of this section shall be confidential and shall not be divulged without the minor's consent, including the sending of a bill for the services to any person other than the minor until the physician or advanced practice registered nurse consults with the minor regarding the sending of a bill.
(b) A minor shall be personally liable for all costs and expenses for services afforded the minor at his or her request under this section.
C.G.S. § 19a-601. Information and counseling for minors required. Medical emergency exception
(a) Prior to the performance of an abortion upon a minor, a physician or counselor shall provide pregnancy information and counseling in accordance with this section in a manner and language that will be understood by the minor. The physician or counselor shall:
(1) Explain that the information being given to the minor is being given objectively and is not intended to coerce, persuade or induce the minor to choose to have an abortion or to carry the pregnancy to term;
(2) Explain that the minor may withdraw a decision to have an abortion at any time before the abortion is performed or may reconsider a decision not to have an abortion at any time within the time period during which an abortion may legally be performed;
(3) Explain to the minor the alternative choices available for managing the pregnancy, including: (A) Carrying the pregnancy to term and keeping the child, (B) carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the child for adoption, placing the child with a relative or obtaining voluntary foster care for the child, and (C) having an abortion, and explain that public and private agencies are available to assist the minor with whichever alternative she chooses and that a list of these agencies and the services available from each will be provided if the minor requests;
(4) Explain that public and private agencies are available to provide birth control information and that a list of these agencies and the services available from each will be provided if the minor requests;
(5) Discuss the possibility of involving the minor's parents, guardian or other adult family members in the minor's decision-making concerning the pregnancy and whether the minor believes that involvement would be in the minor's best interests; and
(6) Provide adequate opportunity for the minor to ask any questions concerning the pregnancy, abortion, child care and adoption, and provide information the minor seeks or, if the person cannot provide the information, indicate where the minor can receive the information.
(b) After the person provides the information and counseling to a minor as required by this section, such person shall have the minor sign and date a form stating that:
(1) The minor has received information on alternatives to abortion and that there are agencies that will provide assistance and that a list of these agencies and the services available from each will be provided if the minor requests;
(2) The minor has received an explanation that the minor may withdraw an abortion decision or reconsider a decision to carry a pregnancy to term;
(3) The alternatives available for managing the pregnancy have been explained to the minor;
(4) The minor has received an explanation about agencies available to provide birth control information and that a list of these agencies and the services available from each will be provided if the minor requests;
(5) The minor has discussed with the person providing the information and counseling the possibility of involving the minor's parents, guardian or other adult family members in the minor's decision-making about the pregnancy;
(6) If applicable, the minor has determined that not involving the minor's parents, guardian or other adult family members is in the minor's best interests; and
(7) The minor has been given an adequate opportunity to ask questions.
(c) The person providing the information and counseling shall also sign and date the form and shall include such person's business address and business telephone number. The person shall keep a copy for such minor's medical record and shall give the form to the minor or, if the minor requests and if such person is not the attending physician, transmit the form to the minor's attending physician. Such medical record shall be maintained as otherwise provided by law.
(d) The provision of pregnancy information and counseling by a physician or counselor which is evidenced in writing containing the information and statements provided in this section and which is signed by the minor shall be presumed to be evidence of compliance with the requirements of this section.
(e) The requirements of this section shall not apply when, in the best medical judgment of the physician based on the facts of the case before him, a medical emergency exists that so complicates the pregnancy or the health, safety or well-being of the minor as to require an immediate abortion. A physician who does not comply with the requirements of this section by reason of this exception shall state in the medical record of the abortion the medical indications on which his judgment was based.