What is the recommended action when a parent refuses care for a minor and safety is a concern?

• A. Contact Medical Control for physician input and enlist law enforcement for safety.
• B. Honor the parent's decision and depart.
• C. Transport without parental consent.
• D. Ask the child what they want.

Answer: (A)

When a parent refuses care for a minor and safety is a concern, the priority is the child’s welfare and medical necessity. The best action is to seek real-time guidance from Medical Control and involve law enforcement if needed to ensure safety. Medical Control can authorize treatment and transport for a minor over parental objections when the situation warrants it, providing the physician direction your crew needs. If there’s any risk to the child or scene safety, law enforcement can help secure the scene and, if appropriate, arrange protective custody, so the child can receive care. This approach respects the legal reality that minors generally cannot consent to emergency medical treatment on their own and ensures the child isn’t left in danger.

Choosing to depart without care ignores a clear safety risk and medical need. Proceeding to transport without authorization isn’t the standard path; you typically rely on medical control direction and, if necessary, law enforcement involvement for custody or safety. Asking the child what they want isn’t appropriate here because minors usually lack the authority to consent to treatment, especially when safety is at stake.