I do not know how this will affect anything to do with this case in particular, but it is something VERY interesting about "age of consent" in SC during my orientation for my new job this week:
In SC, NO ONE under the age of 18 can consent to ANYTHING legally such as purchases, procedures, etc in SC. The ONLY exceptions are 1) if they are LEGALLY emancipated by a court of law or 2) they are providing consent for their own child. The "Romeo Law" as it is affectionately known covers for sexual activity, which sets age for consent for sex at a different age (16), HOWEVER, it would not carry over for ANYTHING else. So, in the eyes of the state of SC, at age 17 Brittanee couldn't give permission for anything otherwise. If she had been injured at some point, she couldn't have given consent for any kind of treatment (granted there are ways around that for emergency purposes with medical treatment.)
What does this have to do with anything? Honestly, I have absolutely no idea, I just found it VERY interesting we had to go to a class because this is apparently has been a big issues in SC previously. IT was presented to us from a medical necessity standpoint, but I found it very interesting that the distinction was made that it covers ANY legal decisions for someone under 18, as in like can they decide legally where they can go, what they can do, etc.
Thought I would share.