What is the rule for informed consent with minors and assent?

• A. Parents or guardians consent; minors may provide assent when capable; emergencies or when required by law, consent may be waived.
• B. Minors must always obtain parental consent with no exceptions.
• C. Only the minor can consent; parents have no role.
• D. Assent is never required.

Answer: (A)

When working with minors, consent is a two-step process: the parent or guardian provides formal permission for treatment, and the minor should be asked to give assent if they are capable of understanding the situation. Assent is the minor’s affirmative agreement and participation in the decision, done in age-appropriate language so they know what is being proposed and what it means for them. The rule also recognizes important exceptions: if the situation is an emergency or if the law allows, consent may be waived so care can proceed to prevent harm or because the law provides a different pathway.

This makes the option the best choice because it captures both the standard requirement—parental consent—and the moral and practical obligation to seek the minor’s assent when appropriate, while also acknowledging that there are emergency or legal circumstances where the usual consent process can be bypassed. The other statements are too rigid or ignore the role of assent and the legal allowances that exist for minors in certain situations.