Confidentiality and Consent

Confidential healthcare for teens at the Teen and Young Adult Clinic

Confidential health care means information from the teen’s clinic visit will be discussed only between the teen and the Teen and Young Adult Clinic team. Information will not be shared with parents, family members, friends or anyone else.

However, someone must give consent, or permission, for the teenager to receive health care at the clinic. Consent may come from the patient or the parent/guardian, depending on the patient’s age.

Patients 18 years or older can consent for their own confidential health care. Please review our Guide for Patients Who Are Turning Age 18 in English (PDF) / Guide for Patients Who Are Turning 18 in Spanish (PDF)

Under California law, patients 12 to 17 years of age can receive confidential health care without a parent’s consent for:

• Sexually transmitted infections
• Contraception
• Pregnancy-related issues
• Substance abuse treatment
• Mental health concerns

These services do not require a parent or guardian to be present at the medical visit. The Teen and Young Adult Clinic team will keep these visits confidential, except if the patient is going to hurt him/herself or others. Patients with financial need may qualify for a special program to help pay for services related to reproductive health care.

General health care for patients under the age of 18, including sports physicals and illness treatment, requires consent of a parent or guardian. The parent or guardian needs to be present at the first visit; a note is required for subsequent visits.