§577A-4  Financial responsibility; counseling.  (a)  If a minor consents to receive medical care and services, the spouse, parent, custodian, or guardian of the minor patient shall not be liable for the legal obligations resulting from the furnishing of medical care and services provided by the public and private hospital, public and private clinic or physician licensed to practice medicine, or advanced practice registered nurse as defined in section 457-2.7.  A minor who consents to the provision of medical care and services under this section shall assume financial responsibility for the costs of such medical care and services.  Any other law to the contrary notwithstanding, no spouse, parent, custodian, or guardian whose consent has not been obtained or who has no prior knowledge that the minor has consented to the provision of such medical care and services shall be liable for the costs incurred by virtue of the minor's consent.

     (b)  Medical care and services shall include individual counseling for each minor patient by a physician licensed to practice medicine or advanced practice registered nurse as defined in section 457-2.7.  Such counseling shall seek to open the lines of communication between parent and child. [L 1975, c 171, §1(2); am L 1979, c 230, pt of §1; am L 2017, c 88, §12]