title: Mandatory parental notification: the importance of confidential health care for adolescents.
abstract: Studies have shown that lack of confidentiality is a barrier to adolescents use of needed health care services. Professional medical organizations support confidential care for adolescents as a matter of individual and public health. Confidentiality is governed by both state and federal law, and physicians must be aware of both. Physicians must facilitate communication between teens and parents while guaranteeing confidential care to their adolescent patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Center for Ethics in Health Care, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, USA.
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics; D005194:Family Practice / Q000941:ethics; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D033282:Parental Consent; D035622:Parental Notification / Q000941:ethics; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D014481:United States