Confidentiality's role in supporting adolescent health

The Minnesota legislature is pushing a bill, SF 1017, to remove a minors right to obtain medical care. There is an exception for incest, rape and abuse but only when the abuse comes at the hand of a parent or a legal guardian - the victim would be forced to go in front of a judge to prove that abuse occurred. This bill would not only force rape and many incest victims to confront their assailants to obtain permission for an abortion, they would have to obtain their permission for STI testing, pregnancy testing, alcohol/drug counseling, mental health counseling and all other medical care.

In Minnesota, STI's disproportionally affect teens. According to the American Medical Association, parental consent and notification laws prevent teens from seeking health care. Removing the right to privacy will not only prevent teens from accessing health care but will prevent teens from obtaining the counseling medical professionals provide. Counseling that includes teaching teens about safe sex practices and guidance for talking to parents about sex. Confidential access to medical care has been a cornerstone to improving the health of American teens.

Guttmacher

Research from as far back as the late 1970s has highlighted the importance of confidentiality to teens' willingness to seek care. Recent research confirms these original findings. For example, a study appearing in 1999 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that a significant percentage of teenagers had decided not to seek health care that they thought they needed due to confidentiality concerns. With respect to reproductive health care, specifically, a 2002 JAMA study found that almost half of sexually active teens (47%) visiting a family planning clinic would stop using clinic services if their parents were notified that they were seeking birth control, and another 11% reported that they would delay testing or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or HIV; virtually all (99%), however, reported that they would continue having sex.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parental consent legislation does not increase family communication, but does increase the risk of harm to the adolescent by delaying access to medical care. Physicians agree that minors should be encouraged to discuss their health with their parents/guardians, but should not be forced in order to obtain care. Parental notification/consent laws have been shown to decrease adolescents’ likelihood of seeking health care and use of contraceptives by almost 50% - thus completing the circle - and increasing the rates of teen pregnancy.

MNCASA provides some linkes to take action.