You may have heard of the “Romeo and Juliet” laws, also known as “narrow age exceptions,” which allow minors to engage in sexual activity with other close-aged people. Unlike Colorado, for example, Texas does NOT have a Romeo and Juliet law. If you are a minor (under 18 years of age), in most cases, a parent or guardian must consent to medical treatment for you. There are exceptions. In general, you can only accept your own medical, dental, psychological and surgical treatment if you are at least 16 years old and live alone. However, if you are a minor who is pregnant, you MAY consent to hospital, medical or surgical treatment for anything related to pregnancy EXCEPT abortion. Texas Family Code 32.003 (a) (4). If you are an unmarried minor parent and you have actual custody of your child, you can consent to medical treatment and vaccination of your child. You can make health decisions for your child, although you may still not be able to make your own health care decisions. Texas Family Code 32,003 (a) (6). This article explains the rights of pregnant and parental minors in Texas to make their own health care decisions. It was written by the Texas Legal Services Center. The age of majority in Texas is 18.
Starting with this milestone anniversary, Texas residents can organize their own legal and medical affairs, get married, and vote without their parents` consent. However, a 17-year-old is not completely powerless, and these minors enjoy many of the rights that we usually associate with adulthood, such as the right to engage in sexual activity and have a job. Texas law allows for the emancipation of minors in certain circumstances. Any minor who applies to a Texas court for emancipation — that is, to be declared an adult in the eyes of the law — must be a Texas resident, 17 years of age (or 16 years of age and separated from his or her parents) and capable of supporting and managing his or her own affairs. A parent, primary guardian, or guardian who has not consented to the minor`s counseling treatment has no obligation to compensate a physician, psychologist, counselor, or social worker for counseling services provided under the section of the Texas Family Code on the child`s consent to counseling (§ 32.04). A supplier who advises a child in accordance with this section will not be liable for damages, except those resulting from the negligence or wilful misconduct of the provider. Texas Family Code § 32.004. Texas` offense of criminally soliciting a minor makes it illegal to ask a minor to commit certain listed offenses. A more detailed explanation of the law can be found below. Under this law, “minor” means a person under the age of 17.1 This crime is not the same as a minor`s online application. Section 33.002 of the Texas Family Code states that a physician may perform an abortion on a non-emancipated minor only if: (2) the requested minor has been acquitted, has not been prosecuted or convicted, has been convicted of another offense or any other type or category of offense, or is immune from prosecution; The minor must file a certified copy of the order in the records of any Texas county. Once a certified copy of the order has been submitted, the minor has the capacity of an adult.
The law provides that the court may decide on the minor`s application up to 17 .m. on the second working day following the day on which the application is submitted to the court, unless the minor requests an extension. In this case, the decision must be taken by 17 s.m. on the second working day following the date on which the minor declares that he is ready to proceed to a hearing. If the court does not rule within these time limits, the application is deemed granted and the doctor may perform an abortion. If the court decides that judicial approval should not be granted, the minor has the right to appeal. A minor can take legal action on his or her own behalf and does not need to be represented by a closest friend. In order for non-parents to give consent to the vaccination of a minor, they must give the health care provider the following: If you are a minor, you can consent to a pregnancy or STI test without informing your parents. You also do not need parental consent to obtain a diagnosis and treatment of an infectious, contagious or communicable disease that must be reported to state authorities (such as HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea). The Texas Youth Commission (TYC) has the power to consent to the medical or dental treatment of a minor who advocates it if the person who has the right to consent has been contacted and that person has not actually communicated otherwise. .