if you live in Virginia...

[elle]

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can you help me find some information?

I believe that state to state many laws vary, and I am trying to find out information about patient confidentiality. What I want to know is if you are a physician and you find out something about a minor (such as that they are pregnant or there is something else they don't want their parents to know about) are you obligated to tell the parents, or are you obligated to not tell the parents due to patient confidentiality? If a minor wants an abortion, do they need parental permission?

I haven't been able to find this information, so if you know about VA laws and can help me out, I would really appreciate it. Thanks 🙂

 

[elle]

anyone? 🙂

 

[rxfudd]

I don't live in Virginia, but I was able to dig this up:

You can email The Medical Society of Virginia at [email protected] or call (800)746-6768 or (804)353-2721, extension 130 for information on the doctor-patient relationship and/or patient record confidentiality as dictated by the AMA code of ethics and the Virginia State Code. For more info, go to www.msv.org.

 

[elle]

rxfudd,
That's awesome! Thank you so much -- I really appreciate it. 🙂

 

[glacierdropsy]

Elle-
I heard this somewhere but I don't know if it's true: if the person seeking an abortion in the state of Virginia is under 18 and they don't want to tell their parents, I believe they can go to the courts and get some kind of parental notification waiver. (But I'm not sure) I'd be interested to hear what you've been able to find. Thanks

 

[gooloogooloo]

I volunteered in the Charlottesville Free Clinic when I went to UVa for undergrad there. In the orientation I remembered they told me that, we are supposed NOT to reveal any patients' information to anyone, INCLUDED their parents, EVEN if they are minor.

I think pt confidentiality DOES apply to minor. About the abortion part, I also believe it's going to be covered as well, since an abortion is not more than any other tx in a sense.

 

[gooloogooloo]

remark,
I was only taking class in UVa, not an officially enrolled student there.

Gary Chou (name changed to gooloogooloo)

 

[elle]

Hey,
Thanks for the info! That's what I found out as well -- patient confidentiality definitely applies to minors.

 

[gooloogooloo]

you are welcome