In the context of an unemancipated pediatric patient undergoing a routine procedure, who may provide consent?

• A. The mother
• B. The father
• C. Either parent
• D. The court

Answer: (C)

For unemancipated minors, someone with legal authority must give consent for routine medical care—minors themselves typically cannot consent. When there are two parents with legal custody, either parent can authorize treatment as long as there isn’t a custody dispute or another court order restricting the decision. The court is not ordinarily involved for routine procedures. The option of a single parent (mother or father) being the sole authorizer is not universal, since both parents may have equal rights to consent. If no parent is available, a legal guardian or court-appointed custodian would step in.