My friend self harmed ?!
Question: My friend used to self harm. She has a lot of scars on her thighs. Her mother is take her to the doctor. She is getting a breast exam. The doctor is also going to do a pap smear. My question is does the doctor have a right to tell her mother about the scars? keep in mind she is 17. She will be 18 in December. She does not want her mother to know. If her mom ask's does the doctor have to tell?
Answers: My friend used to self harm. She has a lot of scars on her thighs. Her mother is take her to the doctor. She is getting a breast exam. The doctor is also going to do a pap smear. My question is does the doctor have a right to tell her mother about the scars? keep in mind she is 17. She will be 18 in December. She does not want her mother to know. If her mom ask's does the doctor have to tell?
Because she is a minor, mom has a right to her medical information. However, if mom isn't in the room when the procedure occurs, I don't think it is up to the doctor to report this information. The doctor may ask about it and worry that mom may be abusing her - which may get DYFS involved.. or suggest that she see a therapist. I'm not familiar with the laws regarding medical doctors.. I know where I work that if a patient comes in with fresh cuts we have a right to tell the parents because the patient is harming themselves. Usually, if the cuts were in the past we dont tell parents, but encourage the patient to open up lines of communication with the parents by being honest and telling them about it themself.
the dr can keep it confidential, but if the scars show recent marks and scabs and she shows a danger to herself and more danger to herself the dr may go ahead for her safelty and tell her mother, self harm is a very bad, she needs help now.
As far as her age goes, that depends on whereabouts she is. In the UK the Dr would have to ask her permission to tell anyone as she is over 16. In anycase most places the Dr would not say anything to her parents as long as he or she is satisfied that this behaviour is either no longer current or not severe. He might speak to her about it, which is a good thing to do, but unless he thinks she is a serious threat to herself he should not say anything. Confidentiality is only broken in very serious cases.