CONTRACEPTION AND THE UNDER-16s

Abstract

Britain's National Association of Family Planning Doctors has circulated a code of practice to its members that reflects the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Gillick v. West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority concerning confidentiality and a younger than 16-year-old girl who seeks contraception. The patient should be assured of the confidentiality of the consultation, be urged to involve her parents, and, with parental consent, be treated. Pending reversal of the Appeal Court's ruling by the House of Lords, however, contraceptive advice and treatment without parental consent may be provided only in an emergency or with court approval.The Chairman of the National Association of Family Planning Doctors has issued the following guidelines regrading confidentiality and the requests of females under 16 years of ago in England, Wales, and Northen Ireland for contraception. 1st, any girl who seeks out a family planning doctor should be listened to attentively and with concern, regardless of her age. The confidentialtiy of the interview should be respected. 2nd, family planning doctors must respect the stability of the girl's family life and avoid any action that might disrupt the parent-child relationship. 3rd, any girls who are not already sexually active at the time of their contact with the physician should be encouraged to remain so. The possibility of physical and emotional sequelae of early sexual activity should be discussed. 4th, young clients should be encouraged to involve their parents. Those who reject this suggestion should be assured that the consultation is confidential, although, in some cases, the doctor may have to seek the consent of the Court for treatment or may have to decide if the situation constitutes on emergency. 5th, if parental consent has been obtained, contraceptive needs can be discussed and the patient should be treated with the normal high standards of professional care.