The United States recognizes an age of majority in which a minor legally becomes an adult and is automatically given medical emancipation from their parents or legal guardians. Before a minor reaches the age of majority, which differs from state to state, he or she has no rights to choose what medical care he or she can receive or refuse. This authority over medical care remains with the minor's parents or legal guardians until they reach the state set age of adulthood. Most states have a set of criteria that must be met by the minor in the event that they no longer want their parents to have authority over their medical decisions. However, the criteria set by the states are stringent and could be impossible for some minors to reach, which infringes on the minor’s inalienable rights to life and the Pursuit of Happiness. According to Douglas S. Dekema author of the web article Parental decision Making, “There are three situations in which minors (those who have not reached the age of majority in their state of residence) have the legal …show more content…
These laws may allow an adolescent to seek treatment without parental consent for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, contraception, psychiatric disorders, and drug or alcohol abuse”, as stated by Douglas. S. Dekema. However, these laws do not cover medical decisions covering life saving treatments, surgeries or other large decisions. According to Cornell University Law School’s web article, Emancipation of Minors, “The court, ever wary of absolutely severing the common law relationship between parents and children, sometimes grants emancipation for particular legal purposes while withholding it for others”. All grants of emancipation should be equal and not depend on legal purposes. Withholding medical emancipation on some minors but granting it to others gravely infringes on their right to Life and the Pursuit of