united-states pennsylvania minor medical
Does Pennsylvania have a mature minor doctrine?
<p>I'm not trying to get medical care, I'm just curious. I was wondering if the state of Pennsylvania had what is known as a "Mature Minor Doctrine"  which, if I understand correctly, would allow minors, in a limited set of circumstances, to consent to medical treatment in lieu of their parents if said minor could demonstrate a level of knowledge and maturity necessary to make such decision. I know that some other states have this statute in their medical codes, and it varies from state to state what the implementation of this law. If PA does have such a doctrine, what are its specifics (age, how maturity is determined, etc.) And if it falls under PA emancipation law (which to my knowledge is horrendously complected.)</p>

<p>PA is a state that has discussed the mature minor doctrine in <em>Commonwealth v. Nixon</em>, 61 A.2d 1151 (Pa. 2000), however, as you mention, the results are complicated.</p>

<p>The following is not well-cited, but it should give you a lay of the land:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.jlgh.org/Past-Issues/Volume-4---Issue-2/Medico-Legal-Matters.aspx" rel="nofollow">Journal of Lancaster General Hospital (2009)</a></p>

<p>You don't mention a particular area of medicine, but the mature minor doctrine is frequently associated with the controversy on underage reproductive behavior.  So let me treat that briefly.  The statute governing abortion is <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&amp;ttl=18&amp;div=0&amp;chpt=32" rel="nofollow">18 Pa.C.S. § 3206</a>, which is about a quarter of the way down the link.  The courts are beginning to get involved as well, and a recent "judicial bypass" case that dealt with parental consent is <em>re Jane Doe</em>, J-108-2010 (Pa. 2011).  </p>
