[Legally effective consent with minors and incompetent patients]

Legal consent to medical treatment requires comprehensive clarification and the patient's capability to consent. Minors under 14 years are usually not capable of consent -- the right to decide rests with the parents. With persons over 14 years the doctor must test for capability to consent. With adults incapable of consent the court-appointed guardian decides. In acute cases the doctor may act first and obtain permission afterwards. Contractual capability is decisive for a treatment contract to be effective and the doctor's claim for remuneration. Minors up to 7 years are absolutely contractually incapable. Since minors under 18 years are only limitedly contractually capable, the approval of the statutory guardian suffices. With contractually incapable adults the court-appointed guardian or in serious cases the Guardianship Court decides. The legal position is explained, using three sample cases.