In Vietnam, medical decisions for a minor belong to the parents or guardian as legal representatives, and hospitals require their signature on consent forms for surgery, anaesthesia and risky interventions. The practical problem arises when a child needs emergency care while the parents are abroad or unreachable — a situation medical examination and treatment law provides for separately.
A child emergency while the parents are absent
Vietnamese law on medical examination and treatment puts the patient’s life above consent formalities: in a life-threatening emergency, the facility resuscitates immediately and intervention decisions are taken by the facility’s professional in charge where the representative cannot be reached, with the course recorded in the medical file. Parents at a distance should immediately supply the hospital and the carer, by phone and electronic writing, with the child’s history, allergies and insurance, because that information directly shapes treatment decisions even though it is not a precondition to starting emergency care.
Who may sign surgery consent for a child?
The signer is the father, mother or lawful guardian — the legal representative under the Civil Code 91/2015/QH13. Grandparents, a nanny or a teacher caring for the child have no inherent right to sign without valid authorisation. For planned surgery, hospitals commonly require the signer to attend with documents proving the relationship to the child. Where both parents are absent for a long period, the robust solution is a certified medical authorisation for a named person in Vietnam, stating precisely the scope of decisions they may take.
What a medical authorisation letter for relatives should contain
The document should state the child’s and the authorised person’s particulars, the scope covering consent to examination, treatment, surgery and hospital-fee payment, the validity period and the parents’ emergency contacts. An authorisation made in Vietnam should carry signature certification or be executed at a notary office; one made abroad needs consular legalisation and translation for smooth acceptance by Vietnamese hospitals. Families should lodge copies in advance with the child’s regular hospital, the school, and keep the original with the authorised person, because in an emergency nobody has time to hunt for papers.
Practical steps: families whose parents travel often or live apart from the child should complete a certified medical authorisation while everything is calm, and file copies at the school, the regular hospital and with the authorised person — a document that only proves itself on the worst day.
Frequently Asked Questions
A child emergency while parents are absent?
The hospital resuscitates immediately to protect life and the professional in charge decides interventions where the representative cannot be reached, under medical examination and treatment law. Parents should send the child’s history, allergies and insurance details to the hospital and carer at once.
Who signs surgery consent for a child?
A parent or lawful guardian — the legal representative under the Civil Code 91/2015/QH13. Another relative may sign only with a valid medical authorisation; planned surgery usually requires the signer present with documents proving the relationship.
What is a medical authorisation letter for relatives?
A certified authorisation naming the child and the authorised person, the scope covering examination, treatment and surgery consent, its validity period and the parents’ emergency contacts. Made abroad it needs legalisation and translation; lodge copies with the school and regular hospital in advance.
