Weird or me? Teens and doctors
Aug. 21st, 2008 11:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
woolymonkeyThe monkey house is 4 doors away from our family doctors' practice. Spidermonkey has verrucas that need fortnightly trips to the doctors for freezing. In the waiting room is a poster assuring under 16s that they can visit their doctor in complete confidentiality. This got me thinking.
Wouldn't it be easier if spidermonkey walked himself to the doctor to have his verrucas frozen while I stayed at home with squirrelmonkey who hates doctors' waiting rooms.
Answer: no. Until spider is 16, I have to accompany him so I can give consent to each session of verruca freezing individually. If he was a girl wanting contraception or abortion, I wouldn't have to be there, or even know about it; but since he's a boy with verrucas, they're not allowed to treat him on his own.
I'm all in favour of teenagers having access to confidential medical support, but isn't it slightly weird that sexually active girls should be the only ones to enjoy this privilege?
Clarifications:
1.It's not our local doctors' practice setting these rules. They think it's crazy too, but as far as they know, that's how it is and they risk getting into trouble if they do it different.
2. It's not a big deal for us, now, in practical terms. I just think it's weird.
Wouldn't it be easier if spidermonkey walked himself to the doctor to have his verrucas frozen while I stayed at home with squirrelmonkey who hates doctors' waiting rooms.
Answer: no. Until spider is 16, I have to accompany him so I can give consent to each session of verruca freezing individually. If he was a girl wanting contraception or abortion, I wouldn't have to be there, or even know about it; but since he's a boy with verrucas, they're not allowed to treat him on his own.
I'm all in favour of teenagers having access to confidential medical support, but isn't it slightly weird that sexually active girls should be the only ones to enjoy this privilege?
Clarifications:
1.It's not our local doctors' practice setting these rules. They think it's crazy too, but as far as they know, that's how it is and they risk getting into trouble if they do it different.
2. It's not a big deal for us, now, in practical terms. I just think it's weird.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 11:01 am (UTC)But I still think it's barmy to make that the ONLY reason a teenager can see a doctor on his/her own.
I'd always assumed a girl's right to confidential contraception was part of a wider human right to make you own decisions for your own body. There's frequent controversy here about teen access to contraception etc. and it can't strengthen the case for access if the law says a child of 12 can't have his verrucas frozen without his mum there.
One of many reasons I thought of sending spider on his own was that it seemed like a good way for him to learn about accessing medical services for himself, a skill that might come in very handy later - hopefully not until he's quite a lot older.