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The Florida Senate

2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLVII CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 984 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF SERVICES; PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FOR SCHOOL TRUANCY AND UNGOVERNABLE AND RUNAWAY CHILDREN Entire Chapter
SECTION 19
Medical screening and treatment of child; examination of parent, legal guardian, or person requesting custody.
F.S. 984.19
984.19 Medical screening and treatment of child; examination of parent, legal guardian, or person requesting custody.—
(1) When any child is to be placed in shelter care, the department or its authorized agent may have a medical screening provided for the child without authorization from the court and without consent from a parent, legal guardian, or custodian. Such medical screening shall be provided by a licensed health care professional and shall be to screen the child for injury, illness, and communicable diseases. In no case does this subsection authorize the department to consent to medical treatment for such children.
(2) When the medical screening authorized by subsection (1) 1is performed or when it is otherwise determined by a licensed health care professional that a child is in need of medical treatment, consent for medical treatment shall be obtained in the following manner:
(a)1. Consent to medical treatment shall be obtained from a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child; or
2. A court order for such treatment shall be obtained.
(b) If a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child is unavailable and his or her whereabouts cannot be reasonably ascertained, and it is after normal working hours so that a court order cannot reasonably be obtained, an authorized agent of the department or its provider has the authority to consent to necessary medical treatment for the child. The authority of the department to consent to medical treatment in this circumstance is limited to the time reasonably necessary to obtain court authorization.
(c) If a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of the child is available but refuses to consent to the necessary treatment, a court order is required, unless the situation meets the definition of an emergency in s. 743.064 or the treatment needed is related to suspected abuse or neglect of the child by the parent or guardian. In such case, the department’s authorized agent may consent to necessary medical treatment. This authority is limited to the time reasonably necessary to obtain court authorization.

In no case may the department consent to sterilization, abortion, or termination of life support.

(3) A judge may order that a child alleged to be or adjudicated a child in need of services be examined by a licensed health care professional. The judge may also order such child to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or a psychologist, by a district school board educational needs assessment team, or, if a developmental disability is suspected or alleged, by the developmental disability diagnostic and evaluation team of the Department of Children and Families or Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The judge may order a family assessment if that assessment was not completed at an earlier time. If it is necessary to place a child in a residential facility for such evaluation, then the criteria and procedure established in s. 394.463(2) or chapter 393 shall be used, whichever is applicable. The educational needs assessment provided by the district school board educational needs assessment team shall include, but not be limited to, reports of intelligence and achievement tests, screening for learning disabilities and other handicaps, and screening for the need for alternative education pursuant to s. 1003.53.
(4) A judge may order that a child alleged to be or adjudicated a child in need of services be treated by a licensed health care professional. The judge may also order such child to receive mental health or intellectual disability services from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other appropriate service provider. If it is necessary to place the child in a residential facility for such services, the procedures and criteria established in s. 394.467 or chapter 393 shall be used, as applicable. A child may be provided services in emergency situations pursuant to the procedures and criteria contained in s. 394.463(1) or chapter 393, as applicable.
(5) When there are indications of physical injury or illness, a licensed health care professional shall be immediately contacted or the child shall be taken to the nearest available hospital for emergency care.
(6) Except as otherwise provided herein, this section does not eliminate the right of a parent, legal guardian, or custodian, or the child, to consent to examination or treatment for the child.
(7) Except as otherwise provided herein, this section does not alter the provisions of s. 743.064.
(8) A court may order services or treatment to be provided to the child by a duly accredited practitioner who relies solely on spiritual means for healing in accordance with the tenets and practices of a church or religious organization, when required by the child’s health and when requested by the child.
(9) This section does not authorize the permanent sterilization of the child, unless such sterilization is the result of or incidental to medically necessary treatment to protect or preserve the life of the child.
(10) For the purpose of obtaining an evaluation or examination or receiving treatment as authorized pursuant to this section, no child shall be placed in a detention facility or other program used primarily for the care and custody of children alleged or found to have committed delinquent acts.
(11) The parents, legal guardian, or custodian of a child alleged to be or adjudicated a child in need of services remain financially responsible for the cost of medical treatment provided to the child even if one or both of the parents or if the legal guardian or custodian did not consent to the medical treatment. After a hearing, the court may order the parents, legal guardian, or custodian, if found able to do so, to reimburse the department or other provider of medical services for treatment provided.
(12) A judge may order a child under its jurisdiction to submit to substance abuse evaluation, testing, and treatment in accordance with s. 397.706.
(13) At any time after the filing of a petition for a child in need of services, when the mental or physical condition, including the blood group, of a parent, guardian, or other person requesting custody of a child is in controversy, the court may order the person to submit to a physical or mental examination by a qualified professional. The order may be made only upon good cause shown and pursuant to notice and procedures as set forth by the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure.
History.—s. 8, ch. 87-133; s. 237, ch. 95-147; s. 30, ch. 96-398; s. 170, ch. 97-101; s. 105, ch. 97-238; s. 1049, ch. 2002-387; s. 164, ch. 2007-5; s. 45, ch. 2013-162; s. 339, ch. 2014-19; s. 22, ch. 2025-153.
1Note.—The words “is performed” were inserted by the editors to improve clarity.
Note.—Former s. 39.439; s. 39.446.