Existing law authorizes a minor 15 years of age or older to consent to the minor’s medical care or dental care, if the minor is living separate and apart from the minor’s parents or guardian and the minor is managing their own financial affairs, as specified. Existing law authorizes a physician and surgeon or dentist, with or without the minor’s consent, to advise the minor’s parent or guardian of the treatment given or needed if the physician and surgeon has reason to know the parent’s or guardian’s whereabouts, based on information given by the minor. Under existing law, a parent or guardian is not liable for care provided according to these provisions.

This bill additionally would authorize minors to consent to their own vision care, and would authorize an optometrist to advise a minor’s parent or guardian of the care given or needed, under the same conditions applicable to the provision of medical care and dental care. The bill would define “vision care” as the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management of disorders, diseases, and dysfunctions of the visual system and the provision of habilitative or rehabilitative optometric services by a licensed optometrist, as specified.