Confidentiality

In a recent report called Confidetiality and Young People, the Royal College of GPs, the Royal College of Nursing, the British Medical Association and the Medical Defence Union, warned that young people's uptake of sexual and other health advice will not be improved "until young people develop more trust in the confidentiality of their practice."

According to the guidance, confidentiality may only be broken in the most exceptional situations, when the health, safety or welfare of the patient would otherwise be at grave risk.

So in most situations, health professionals will be required to keep information about young people private, only sharing it with other organisations if this is in the best interests of the young person's health or wellbeing.

Consent

Competent young people – that is, those who are capable of understanding choices of treatment and their consequences – can independently seek advice and give valid consent to treatment.

The age at which a young person can give consent will vary according to the individual, and the nature of the treatment. Health professionals should give young people as much information as possible about the treatment and do their best to explain it in a way that the young person can easily understand.

If a young person disagrees with a health professional about whether they are competent to give consent, then they are entitled to challenge this decision.

For further information, and to download guidance that you can give to young people, visit Health Rights Information Scotland (external link).