Your Medical Rights

Medical Confidentiality

In the UK, medical professionals (including GPs and other clinical staff) are required to follow strict rules about confidentiality.

If you are OVER 16:

They are NOT allowed to share your medical history with your parents or guardian as you are presumed to have capacity to make your own decsions regarding medical care, which includes confidentiality.

If you are UNDER 16:

You are allowed to give or refuse consent to your medical treatment if a healthcare professional decides that you are 'Gillick competent'. This means that they believe you have enough maturity and intelligence to understand what you are consenting to, including the risks. You are entitled to confidentiality as well, and it will only be breached under specific circumstances, which they should speak to you about first.

Sexual Health confidentiality

Teenagers of any age (including under 16) have confidential access to sexual health services. These services include pregnancy testing, contraception, treatments, etc.

Healthcare workers will only breach confidentiality if they have good reason to believe that the young person is at risk of serious abuse or harm.

Who can override consent?

• For those who are deemed not to have the capacity or competence to understand or give consent, an adult with parental responsibility must provide consent. Alternatives to people with parental responsibility include those with guardianship or who are court-appointed to make medical decisions for someone.

• In emergencies or life-threatening situations, doctors may perform necessary medical treatments without prior consent when acting in the person's best interests. 

• If you refuse treatment, which could then lead to your death or a severe permanent injury, then your decision could be overruled by the Court of Protection, which is the legal body that oversees the operation of the Mental Capacity Act.

(NHS, 2017; World Health Organisation, 2023)