age of medical consent

The Consent To Medical Treatment and Palliative Care (Parental Consent) Amendment Bill 2009 (SA) proposes to amend the Consent To Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act 1995 No. 26 (SA). This private member's Bill, sponsored by Robert Brokenshire MLC, was introduced into the Legislative Council and received its second reading speech on 23 September 2009.The Bill would:(a) amend the definition of "child" so that it means a person under 18 years of age, rather than 16 years of age; and(b) amend s. 12 (Administration of medical treatment to a child) to clarify that a medical practitioner may only administer medical treatment to a child without parental or guardian consent if reasonable efforts have been made to contact the parent or guardian.