Consent and Confidentiality
T
BY THE CHILDREN’S COALITION FOR NORTHEAST LOUISIANA
he various confidentiality laws, minor consent laws and reporting responsibilities of medical providers can be overwhelming and confusing for teens and their parents. Teens’ concerns about confidentiality is the #1 reason they might not seek medical care. Understanding what youth can and cannot consent to and what is truly confidential can make the difference between good sexual health and poor health outcomes. In most cases, minors residing in the state of Louisiana may consent to medical treatment without the permission of their parents. However, they must obtain the consent of their parents where more controversial issues are concerned, such as abortion or sterilization. No medical professional in Louisiana is required by law to inform parents of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV; however, Louisiana state law does allow clinicians to inform parents of these issues, even if the minor objects to the release of information. The only exception is if the medical provider is at a Title X (pronounced “title ten”) clinic. Adolescents seeking services may go to any Title X clinic for a wide range of confidential services without parental consent or notification.
128 JANUARY 2019 | WWW.BAYOULIFEMAG.COM
Monica L. Coleman is the Director of Education and Training at Teen Health Mississippi, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure all young people in Mississippi have access to high-quality sex education and youth-friendly healthcare services. Monica is a certified rehabilitation counselor and provisionally certified addictions counselor. Monica earned B.A. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington, B.S. is Psychology from the University of Houston, and M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Memphis. Monica leads Teen Health Mississippi’s efforts to provide training, professional development and technical assistance to educators, youth-serving professionals and healthcare providers in the state to ensure they have the information, resources and skills to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of the youth they serve.
Q: Why is important for parents to talk to their children about medical consent and confidentiality? A: Young people often turn to and listen to their parents for advice on matters important when transitioning to adulthood. Talking to young people about medical consent and confidentiality is one of those conversations helpful for preparing young people to manage their health lifelong. When parents talk to young people about medical consent, one important topic to mention is sexual and reproductive healthcare. This is an area of healthcare where young people can provide their own medical consent at certain clinics and with certain providers. When parents let young people know where and how they can access this type of healthcare, young people can feel supported to seek and speak with healthcare providers for their sexual and reproductive health needs. Parents also can feel confident that young people are getting what they need during a healthcare visit, if they have already gone through what to expect with them. A good way to start the conversation is having an open conversation about the universal values of respect, responsibility and caring that we all expect, when we visit a healthcare provider. Q: What are some of the short- and long-term outcomes of avoiding medical care because of confidentiality concerns? A: For many young people, confidentiality is the top concern that gets in their way of accessing care. Some young people worry that their parents or guardians will be notified. It makes sense that confidentiality is extremely important for young people while they are developing their identity and sensitive of any labeling that may negatively be associated