Emancipated minors may consent to medical treatment without a parent.

• A. Emancipated minors may not consent without a parent.
• B. Only parents may consent regardless of emancipated status.
• C. Emancipated minors may consent to medical treatment without a parent.
• D. Non-emancipated minors may consent.

Answer: (C)

Emancipation gives a minor the legal right to make medical decisions as if they were an adult. When someone is emancipated, they have the capacity to consent to medical treatment without needing a parent’s permission. In clinical practice, this means the clinician should obtain consent directly from the emancipated minor after explaining the treatment, risks, benefits, and alternatives, just as they would with an adult. Jurisdictional rules can vary and there are always exceptions for emergency care or certain services, but the core idea is that emancipation removes the requirement for parental consent for medical treatment. The other statements contradict this by keeping parental control or denying the minor’s consent despite emancipation.