Informed Consent

In BC, the age of majority is 19 years, and there is no stipulated age of consent for medical treatment. The Infants Act applies to anyone under 19 years old. A health care provider can accept consent from the child and provide health care that is in the child’s best interests without getting consent from the parent or guardian if the health care provider is sure that the child understands: 

• The need for the health care;
• What the health care involves; and 
• The benefits and risks of the health care (“health care” means anything that is done for a therapeutic, preventive, palliative, diagnostic, cosmetic or other health related purpose, and includes a course of health care).

Since the Covid 19 shots are not preventive, it is questionable as to the applicability of the Act.