Media Center: Press Release

Revised edition gives local healthcare providers an accessible overview of state laws protecting adolescent healthcare

New York, NY—Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH) has released a revised edition of its popular resource summarizing minors' rights to confidential healthcare treatment in the state of Pennsylvania. This laminated tri-fold card offers healthcare providers a quick and convenient reference on state laws governing healthcare for minors, and explains which services may be offered confidentially to patients younger than 18.

Dr. Melanie Gold, an adolescent medicine specialist who helped develop the revised card, notes that confidentiality is a unique issue when treating adolescents: "Healthcare providers want to provide the best possible care to adolescents, but we also need to be sure we're following all the relevant laws, which are often very complex. There's clearly a need among medical students, residents, doctors and other healthcare providers for a clear, easy-to-use reference to state laws about confidentiality."

To date, PRCH has distributed more than 5,000 cards to healthcare providers in Pennsylvania. The updated card details requirements for patient confidentiality, and provides guidelines on confidential treatment for contraceptives, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, abortion services, testing and treatment for STDs and drug and alcohol treatment. In addition, the revised card includes critical information about Pennsylvania's new law governing mental healthcare for patients age 14 to 17.

Carol Petraitis, director of ACLU-PA's Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project, a partner with PRCH in developing the new card, says there is a large demand for a guide to Pennsylvania laws regulating confidential healthcare for minors. "There is no other place to get this information," she notes. "The Minors' Access Card helps doctors understand lawyers, and lawyers understand doctors."

Highlights in the publication, Minors' Access to Confidential Healthcare for Reproductive Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse in Pennsylvania, include:

• Young people are more likely to seek care when they are assured of confidentiality.

• When a minor has the right to consent—generally allowed if the minor has graduated high school, been married or been pregnant—s/he can consent to all medical, dental, and other health services, except abortion

• Pennsylvania law allows clinicians to provide confidential contraceptive care to minors, and guarantees minors access to contraception without parental notification at facilities that receive funding through Title X (a federal program devoted to the provision of family planning and reproductive healthcare services).

• Emergency contraception (EC) is a form of contraception; therefore, minors do not need parental consent to obtain EC.

• All minors have the right to consent to confidential pregnancy testing. Pennsylvania law generally requires parental consent for a minor to have an abortion, unless the minor is emancipated.

• A minor may consent to testing and treatment for STDs (including HIV).

• A minor may consent to medical care or counseling related to the diagnosis or treatment of drug and/or alcohol abuse. Facilities that receive federal assistance may not disclose information about the minor's treatment or care without prior written consent.

• A minor age 14 or older may consent to inpatient mental health treatment; the minor's parent or guardian must be notified if the minor is admitted, but may not remove the minor from care. Minors age 14 and over may consent to outpatient mental health treatment without parental consent or notice.

• Pennsylvania law occasionally permits or requires the disclosure of information without the minor's consent, including aspects of inpatient mental health treatment and any incidents of child abuse or suspected child abuse.

Minor's Access Cards are available through PRCH for seven other states, including Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Ohio. The full series of Minors' Access Cards can be viewed here.  

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