What is patient confidentality of someone underage with a doctor?

Question

My 16 year old friend is struggling with bulimia/anorexia. For the past month she hasnt been eating, and if she has she throws it up. I am the only one she has told and i have finally convinced her to see a doctor. She is worried about her mom finding out though from the doctor. Because she is underage, is the doctor required to tell her mom about her disorder or is her secret safe in the doctors hands?

Also, this maybe a dumb question, but is there medicine a doctor can give her? What will a doctor do for her?

Answer 1

Her doctor, legally, will not be able to tell anyone - especially not her parents. If she were under 16, the doctor would not be able to tell her parents anything, but he would have to, legally, answer all their questions honestly [which means if they asked 'does my daughter have an eating disorder?', he would have to say yes]. Because she is 16, however, he will not be able to tell anyone.

That said, if the doctor feels she is in direct danger to herself, he may put her in a hospital. Its unlikely, but it CAN happen.

There is no medication or 'cure' for anorexic/bulimia. The doctor will let your friend have someone to talk to, however, and will be able to keep track of her body, so that she may be able to stop some of the damage she is doing and has already done.

The doctor will most likely try and get your friend to go to a counselor.

Bottom line, though: anything she says to the doctor stays between her and the doctor.

Good luck.

Answer 2

i believe the ACLU has a booklet you can order that discusses an underage patient's rights. you can also look up the phrase on google, and look at some of the, "patients' bill of rights". i'd be a bit wary of those, though. not a lot of people knew/cared/or told me of my rights, when i was institutionalised, at that age. still, it IS law, though she may be considered to be a harm to herself, which changes things. some medicines (some of the antidepressants, for instance) are said to be helpful with ana and mia, but therapy is most likely (actually, a combination is most likely, or was, when i was young - today, it might just be pills). you're a good friend. stay with her. fight for her. you have rights, too; greater rights than a sick girl. use them, with a will.