[Legal representatives of the child with respect to the Act on Consent to Medical Treatment (WGBO): more representatives possible the under the new family law].

The possibilities to exercise family authority over minors have been extended drastically since 1998. This has its consequences for the doctor with respect to medical treatment. According to the Dutch act on agreement concerning medical treatment the minor up to the age of fifteen needs his tutor in deciding about medical treatment. From the age of sixteen the child decides for himself. New family law offers the doctor many more representatives of the child. Representatives may be parents, tutors of special curators. Main changes in the family law are that since 1998 the partner of a parent or of a tutor may be given family authority. Furthermore this is now also possible for a parent or tutor living together with a partner of the same sex. The central issue is that the best interests of the child always prevail and that the physician has the legal obligation to act as a good assistant. This may entail the physician's ascertaining who represents the child and who is allowed to decide and to be informed. This is not necessarily the person accompanying the child.