Healthcare
Questions on this page:
When can you get medical advice or treatment on your own?
Is a doctor or nurse allowed to tell anyone about something you say to them?
What if you want medical treatment and your parent/s or carer/s refuse?
Can you ever refuse medical treatment?
Can you get advice on sexual health, even if your parent/s don’t want you to?
Do you have to pay for medicine?
When can you get medical advice or treatment on your own?
From the age of 16 you can get medical treatment on your own. You can also get medical advice or treatment at any age if the doctor thinks that you understand what the treatment really involves.
If the doctor thinks that you do not understand all of the consequences of the treatment then s/he might say that your parent/s or guardian/s have to decide that it is OK before treating you.
If you are under 16, your parent/s or guardian/s will have to register you with a doctor (GP). Once you reach 16, you can choose your own doctor (GP).
Is a doctor or nurse allowed to tell anyone about something you say to them?
If you are aged 16 or above, a doctor or nurse cannot tell anyone about what you say to them, unless they are worried about your safety.
If you are under 16, you should tell the doctor or nurse that you do not want your parent or guardian to be told about anything that you have discussed with them.
What if you want medical treatment and your parent/s or carer/s refuse?
If the doctors think that you are mature enough to understand all the consequences of the treatment then you can ask for medical treatment even if your parent/s or guardian/s refuse.
If the doctors don’t think that you can understand everything that the treatment involves then you won’t be able to have the treatment. Medical treatment can include getting advice, prescriptions (including prescriptions for contraception) and surgery.
Can you ever refuse medical treatment?
If you are over 18, no one can make you have any treatment that you don’t want – no one can override your decision. If you are under 18 and have refused treatment, the doctors, your parent/s or your guardian/s can apply to the court and ask them to give an order which says that you must have the treatment despite the fact that you have refused. This does not happen often and usually involves very serious cases where someone’s life is at risk.
Can you get advice on sexual health, even if your parent/s don’t want you to?
Whatever your age you can go and see a doctor or nurse about sexual health and contraception. If you are under 16, a doctor can prescribe contraception for you without telling your parents as long as s/he thinks that you understand the possible risks.
The doctor will only tell your parents or guardian that you went to see them if they think you are at risk of harm. For example, if they think that you are at risk of sexual abuse, but they must talk to you first to let you know that they will have to tell someone else.
Do you have to pay for medicine?
If you’re under 16 you can get free prescriptions. If you are aged 16-18 and are in full time education your prescriptions are also free.
If you’re 16 or 17 and get financial help from your local authority your prescriptions should be free.
Prescriptions for contraception, such as the pill, are always free no matter what age you are.
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