Healthcare between 16 to 18 – transition to adult services
Consent and confidentiality
Consent
When you turn 16, you can agree to your own examination or treatment, like adults do. Health care providers don’t need to ask your parents or guardian for consent.
Young people aged 16 and 17 can usually consent to their own treatment. This is unless there is evidence that suggests otherwise or if they feel unready. If you can’t decide for yourself or don’t want to, your parents or guardians can make choices that are best for you.
Find out more:
- Consent to treatment – NHS
- Consent to treatment – Children and young people – NHS
- Read More about the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Making decisions: An Easy read guide
Parents or carers can’t consent for young people aged 18 or older, even if those young people can’t consent for themselves. The only exception is if they have applied for and received an Order from the Court of Protection.
If a young person can’t make decisions about their care, you can find out how to become a deputy. A court authorises a deputy to make decisions for them. More information is available at the Court of Protection.
If the adult patient can’t decide and there’s no Court of Protection Order, the treating team will talk to you about the suggested treatment. But, they will make the final decision in the young person’s best interests.
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document. You can choose one or more people to help make decisions about your health and welfare after you turn 18. This is important if you can’t make those decisions yourself at any time.
Find out more:
- Consent to treatment – Children and young people – NHS
- What you need to know about people making decisions for you. (Easy Read)
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is respecting a person’s privacy and not sharing your details or information unless you give consent for them to be shared.
You have a right to confidentiality when speaking to a doctor or nurse. This is called doctor and nurse patient confidentiality. All doctors and nurses are legally bound by it.
This means that doctors and nurses will keep your information private. They won’t share what you say with your parents or anyone else unless in specific circumstances.
If the doctor or nurse feels that you are in danger in any way or need help to make your decision, they may involve your parent or carer or share your information to keep you safe.
If you might harm yourself or others, professionals cannot keep things private.