This Rhode Island statute establishes who may consent to medical and surgical care, allowing persons aged 16 or older, married individuals, and minor parents to consent to their own or their child's routine, emergency, medical, or surgical care. It also permits minors who are pregnant to consent to prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery services, with exceptions for abortion and sterilization. This is a general health law governing patient consent and does not license or set operating standards for any specific behavioral health, IDD, ABA, or foster care facility type.
View official sourceTitle 23 Health and Safety Chapter 4.6 Consent to Medical and Surgical Care R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-4.6-1 § 23-4.6-1. Consent to medical and surgical care. (a) Any person of the age of sixteen (16) or over or married may consent to routine, emergency, medical or surgical care. A minor parent may consent to treatment of his or her child. (b) In addition to the provisions of subsection (a), any person, including, but not limited to, a minor who is pregnant, may give effective consent for medical, dental, health, and hospital services relating to prenatal, delivery, and post-delivery care. The attending physician shall comply with § 40-11-3. Consent shall not be given pursuant to this subsection for abortion or sterilization. History of Section. P.L. 1971, ch. 145, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-51-1; P.L. 1979, ch. 39, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 23-4.6-1; P.L. 2018, ch. 132, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 251, § 1.