What does confidential care mean?
- Confidential means “to keep secret.”
- At a doctor’s office confidential care means information about you is kept private. There are laws that make sure your doctor’s visit is kept confidential and that it is only shared with those who have a right to know about it.
- In many cases, if you can consent for the service, your doctor or nurse WILL NOT tell your parents or guardians what services you received without your permission. Click here to see what services minors can consent for without needing permission from parents or guardians.
- For your safety, some things CANNOT stay confidential. Your doctor or nurse has to contact someone else for help if you say…
- You were or are being physically or sexually abused.
- You are planning to hurt yourself or someone else.
Will my parents see my test results or learn about what happened at my doctor visit?
- Ask your doctor about this!
- All doctors should follow the law about confidential care.
- They will only share your information with those who have a right to know about it.
- If you want to keep health issues private from your parents, tell your doctor.
- Also, some health insurance plans (especially private health insurance) may send bills home from clinic visits and labs in a way that is not private.
- Some clinics are designed to serve teens and young adults and help to make it easy for young people to be seen confidentially. If you need to find a clinical setting that does this well, click here.
How can I take control to make sure my care is confidential?
- Ask your doctor or nurse what information will be shared with your parents or guardians.
- Ask your doctor or nurse if your health insurance plan will be sharing information with your parents or guardians.
- Know your rights about confidentiality in the health care system and speak up if you feel like your rights are being broken.
