CACI 531 Consent on Behalf of Another

California Civil Jury Instructions CACI

531 Consent on Behalf of Another


In this case [name of patient] could not consent to the [insert medical procedure] because [he/she/nonbinary pronoun] was [insert reason—e.g., a minor/incompetent/unconscious]. In this situation, the law allows [name of authorized person] to give consent on behalf of [name of patient].

You must decide whether [name of authorized person] consented to the [insert medical procedure] performed on [name of patient].


Sources and Authority

Parent Delegation of Right to Authorize Medical Care. Family Code section 6910.

“If the patient is a minor or incompetent, the authority to consent is transferred to the patient’s legal guardian or closest available relative.” (Cobbs v. Grant (1972) 8 Cal.3d 229, 244 [104 Cal.Rptr. 505, 502 P.2d 1]; Farber v. Olkon (1953) 40 Cal.2d 503, 509 [254 P.2d 520].)


Secondary Sources

5 Witkin, Summary of California Law (11th ed. 2017) Torts, §§ 460, 463
California Tort Guide (Cont.Ed.Bar 3d ed.) § 9.16
3 Levy et al., California Torts, Ch. 31, Liability of Physicians and Other Medical Practitioners, § 31.14 (Matthew Bender)
6 California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 58, Assault and Battery, § 58.14
32 California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 365, Minors: Contract Actions, § 365.13; Ch. 366, Minors: Court Consent for Medical Care or Enlistment, § 366.10 (Matthew Bender)
34 California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 394, Parent and Child, § 394.54 (Matthew Bender)
36 California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 415, Physicians: Medical Malpractice, § 415.13 (Matthew Bender)
33 California Legal Forms, Ch. 104, Health Care Transactions, Consents, and Directives, § 104.11 (Matthew Bender)