The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
Read more
Medpedia Answers
(Other)Medpedia Answers is a platform for asking and answering questions about health and medicine. Read more.
Underage contraception and confidentiality. What to do?
If a 12-14 year old girl came into your office asking for contraception or an abortion but asked you don't tell her parents, what would you do? How is a doctor supposed to act legally and ethically in this situation?
Adding a twist to the scenario. Let's say the 12-14 year old female which came in is the daughter of one of your friends who you work with in the hospital/clinic. Does this change how you respond to the situation?
Adding a twist to the scenario. Let's say the 12-14 year old female which came in is the daughter of one of your friends who you work with in the hospital/clinic. Does this change how you respond to the situation?
asked Jan 18 at 07:37PM in Other
-
0Votes
answered Jan 19 at 09:25PMFirst, the doctor must take into consideration the law in his or her community. In the United States, each state has their own legal policy regarding contraception and abortion requested by minor patients. An up to date (January 2012) tabulation of these individual state laws can be found in Guttmacher Institute's "An Overview of Minors' Consent Law
www.guttmacher.org/statecenter/spibs/spib_OMCL.pdf
If a physician is confronted with a minor patient who makes such requests and the doctor is unwilling to accept the requirements set by law or has moral reasons against the request, then the patient should be referred elsewhere.
Most states require parental approval or parental notification for abortion. Some states, currently, have enforcement of their laws enjoined permanently or temporarily by court order so that the policy regarding parental consent or notification is not in effect. This means that the minor is still considered by current law to have the capacity to make her own decisions in this matter.
If the minor patient making the request " is the daughter of one of your friends who you work with in the hospital/clinic" whether or not the friend should be notified about the request should be decided by the wishes of the patient and following the current legal requirements. ..Maurice.
Sign-in
to post an answer to this question.
Related Questions
in
Other
- Is twitching of the eyelid a symptom of stress?
- Get rid of eczema on hands?
- No symptoms of Trichomonas
- What would you do as medical professionals if you came across health care products being sold on the net which you knew made completely false claims of healing or curing a medical condition?
- Is it possible for a breast mass to disappear?
- I took a pre-employment drug test and it came up positive for PCP, but I am not on prescribed medication. How can this happen?
- What could cause sharp pains under the right breast for about one year that is relieved by taking Bayer aspirin. I have had several stress tests and they all came back ok. Could this be angina?
- How do you diagnose '47,XYY Syndrome'?
- Patient received 8 pints of blood during trauma surgery, but then died. Within a week the autopsy bloodwork done came out positive for Hepatitis B. Is it possible the result came from the transfusions a week prior or is that too quick?
- My water test came back with methylene chloride in it. Could it be absord through the skin from taking a shower?
- »» See All
The content on or accessible through Medpedia.com is for informational purposes only. Medpedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified health professional.
Read more