Adolescents, Their Parents, Consent, and Privacy

The circumstances in which adolescent patients can consent to their own medical treatment vary by state; however, most states have consent exceptions based on an adolescent’s legal status and select medical conditions. The laws surrounding the privacy of sensitive condition treatment information also vary, not only from state to state, but also among conditions. It is important for clinicians to consider each adolescent consent and/or privacy issue on a case by-case basis. Should decision-making ever be called into question, or become the impetus for a lawsuit, documentation of the analysis leading to your consent and privacy decisions will be very important in the defense of the claims against you.