How does Sonder support minors?
Generally, a minor is capable of independently consenting to or refusing their medical treatment when they achieve a sufficient level of understanding and intelligence to enable them to fully understand what is proposed. This means that there is no set age at which a child or young person is capable of giving consent. Sonder’s clinicians will decide on a case-by-case basis whether a minor has the appropriate legal capacity to consent.
Where appropriate, a parent or legal guardian may provide consent on behalf of the minor. Sonder will seek to contact the parent or guardian on the minor’s behalf when appropriate.
It’s a preferred practice that you and your people supply up-to-date next of kin or emergency contact details for minors - their parents, guardians, or equivalent. Sonder’s terms and conditions require parental consent for minors to download and use the Sonder offering, which can be accessed at the login screen when registering.
Specific to mental health support, Sonder and its network of providers does not provide psychological therapy and counselling to those under the age of 14 and 9 months. Sonder will assess the needs of the minor and their parent/legal guardian and aim to provide direct support to the parent/guardian to facilitate positive outcomes for the minor.
You must have the legal capacity to be able to provide consent to treatment. Your legal capacity is assessed by Sonder during a support interaction. Legal capacity is considered in line with the proposed treatment. You need to be able to understand the nature and effect of the decision to consent, and demonstrate their understanding by communicating this in some way.