Below are state statutes relating to minor consent for this state; however, there may be additional statutes NVIC is unaware of, and readers may need to do additional research and/or obtain additional legal advice. NVIC doesn't provide legal advice and provides the below for informational purposes only. NVIC provides additional resource information in our FAQ on Vaccination in School-Based Health Clinics, should readers have concerns about the vaccination of their child without parental knowledge or consent this school setting.
Utah Code
Title 26B – Utah Health and Human Services Code
Chapter 7 – Public Health and Prevention
Part 1 – Health Promotion and Risk Reduction
Section 101 Public health, prevention, and epidemiology — Reserved.
Effective 5/3/2023
26B-7-101. Definitions.
As used in this part:
(2) "Maternal and child health services" means:
(a) the provision of educational, preventative, diagnostic, and treatment services, including medical care, hospitalization, and other institutional care and aftercare, appliances, and facilitating services directed toward reducing infant mortality and improving the health of mothers and children provided, however, that nothing in this Subsection (2) shall be construed to allow any agency of the state to interfere with the rights of the parent of an unmarried minor in decisions about the providing of health information or services;
(3) "Minor" means a person under 18 years old.
Utah Code
Title 26B – Utah Health and Human Services Code
Chapter 7 – Public Health and Prevention
Part 2 – Detection and Management of Chronic and Communicable Diseases and Public Health Emergencies
Section 214 – Sexually transmitted infections — Consent of minor to treatment. (Effective 5/3/2023)
(1) A consent to medical care or services by a hospital or public clinic or the performance of medical care or services by a licensed physician or physician assistant executed by a minor who is or professes to be afflicted with a sexually transmitted disease, shall have the same legal effect upon the minor and the same legal obligations with regard to the giving of consent as a consent given by a person of full legal age and capacity, the infancy of the minor and any contrary provision of law notwithstanding.
(2) The consent of the minor is not subject to later disaffirmance by reason of minority at the time it was given and the consent of no other person or persons shall be necessary to authorize hospital or clinical care or services to be provided to the minor by a licensed physician or physician assistant.
(3) The provisions of this section shall apply also to minors who profess to be in need of hospital or clinical care and services or medical care or services provided by a physician or physician assistant for suspected sexually transmitted disease, regardless of whether such professed suspicions are subsequently substantiated on a medical basis.
Utah Code
Title 26B – Utah Health and Human Services Code
Chapter 4 – Health Care – Delivery and Access
Part 3 – Health Care Access
Section 321 – Immunizations — Consent of minor to treatment. (Effective 5/3/2023)
(1) This section:
(a) is not intended to interfere with the integrity of the family or to minimize the rights of parents or children; and(b) applies to a minor, who at the time care is sought is:
(i) married or has been married;
(ii) emancipated as provided for in Section 80-7-105;
(iii) a parent with custody of a minor child; or
(iv) pregnant.
(2)(a) A minor described in Subsections (1)(b)(i) and (ii) may consent to:
(i) vaccinations against epidemic infections and communicable diseases as defined in Section 26B-7-201; and
(ii) examinations and vaccinations required to attend school as provided in Title 53G, Public Education System — Local Administration.
(b) A minor described in Subsections (1)(b)(iii) and (iv) may consent to the vaccinations described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) and (ii), and the vaccine for human papillomavirus only if:
(i) the minor represents to the health care provider that the minor is an abandoned minor as defined in Section 76-5-109.3; and
(ii) the health care provider makes a notation in the minor's chart that the minor represented to the health care provider that the minor is an abandoned minor under Section 76-5-109.3.
(c) Nothing in Subsection (2)(a) or (b) requires a health care provider to immunize a minor.
(3) The consent of the minor pursuant to this section:
(a) is not subject to later disaffirmance because of the minority of the person receiving the medical services;
(b) is not voidable because of minority at the time the medical services were provided;
(c) has the same legal effect upon the minor and the same legal obligations with regard to the giving of consent as consent given by a person of full age and capacity; and
(d) does not require the consent of any other person or persons to authorize the medical services described in Subsections (2)(a) and (b).
(4) A health care provider who provides medical services to a minor in accordance with the provisions of this section is not subject to civil or criminal liability for providing the services described in Subsections (2)(a) and (b) without obtaining the consent of another person prior to rendering the medical services.
(5) This section does not remove the requirement for parental consent or notice when required by Section 76-7-304 or 76-7-304.5.
(6) The parents, parent, or legal guardian of a minor who receives medical services pursuant to Subsections (2)(a) and (b) are not liable for the payment for those services unless the parents, parent, or legal guardian consented to the medical services.
