Minnesota has state laws that allow minors to consent to certain types of services without parent or guardian permission (Minnesota Statutes Sections 144.341 - 144.3441). These laws help young people seek confidential health care for sensitive issues such as pregnancy or pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, and substance use. Minnesota Statute 253B.04 subd.1 allows youth who are 16 years of age or older to consent for inpatient mental health services. Minnesota Statute Sec. 144.3431 allows youth who are 16 years of age or older to consent for outpatient mental health services.
Confidentiality protections allow adolescents and young adults to seek the health care they need and protect their privacy for these services. How the law protects confidential services for young people depends on their age; for example, whether a patient is a minor (under 18 years) or an adult (18 years or older), and whether the patient can legally consent to their own care.
Below are some resources to help understand the consent and confidentiality laws in Minnesota:
The following document is provided as an informative resource with general guidelines and is not produced or directly published by the Minnesota Department of Health. This document does not yet reflect updates from the 2023 Minnesota Legislative session.
These documents provide general information only and do not constitute legal advice or consult from the Minnesota Department of Health. Please consult your agency’s policies, procedures, and legal counsel for information specific to your practice.
