Following two rounds of public comment and input from the Children's Environmental Health and Protection Advisory Council and the Council on Cancer Control, the consent form has been revised to include the following statements:
“Indoor tanning can cause skin cancer. Skin cancer can be fatal. To reduce the risk of skin cancer, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under 18 never use tanning devices.”
This language was unanimously supported by the Council on Cancer Control at its September meeting. The form requires presentation of an official government-issued identification as part of the verification process. A parent may use this form to consent to a single visit or to multiple visits to a tanning facility, and the parent’s consent will be considered valid and effective for a period of up to six months.
The Department is issuing the revised form to licensed indoor tanning facilities, and asking that the new form be used starting December 15, 2013.
Information about the comments received and the new consent form is available here: http://phpa.dhmh.maryland.gov/
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