Consider the Case: Adolescent Health Privacy 12th November 2018 Mate Hegedus-Gaspar Pharmacy Practice Adolescent health privacy quiz How should you approach the health information privacy of a young person? A young girl (under 18) approaches you in the pharmacy. She is asking for health advice from you. If you give her advice, should you require a parent or guardian be present? Yes, because she is underage No, it's not neccesary Depends on her age and other circumstances You counsel the above young patient. The following 5 pieces of information come up during the discussion. Is there ONE amongst these that you DO NOT have to treat as health information? 1) The name and nature of the patient's medical condition 2) The patient's phone number 3) The name of the medicines for which the patient has repeats available 4) The fact that the patient has or hasn't got repeats available 5) The patient's driver's licence number No, all of the above 5 items must be considered health information Do you have to comply with her request that her health information be kept private and not shared with her parents/guardian? Yes No Depends on her age and/or level of competence Can you tell her parents/guardian what medication you have given her? Yes, but only if she is under 12 years old It depends on her age and/or level of competence Yes, the parents/guardian have a right to know No, it would not be acceptable in any case If the young patient is 12 years old and her mother is present at the consultation, how should you give advice? The advice concerns the patient only, therefore it is enough to give a simplified explanation matching the level of the young person The most important consideration is that the mother should understand the advice, no additional explanation is necessary The advice has to be formulated so that the young patient can understand it as well, with additional, simplified explanation, if necessary Ready to send Share this
