Doctor patient confidentiality concerning parents and marijuana use?

Question

Here is the deal: my mom and I go to the same general practitioner, I've only been seeing the doctor for a couple of years (as opposed to my mom who has been there much longer). I am now 18. When my mom goes to see the doctor, she and the doctor talk about me (and my health issues, including my use of marijuana). Now both she and my doctor are "telling" me that I need to go in for regular urine tests to test for THC. I have told them that I don't intend to stop using marijuana anytime in the immediate future. I know the health/legal risks associated with marijuana. My parents and my doctor have made me do this before; I took a break from smoking for a while just to please them. But I don't intend on stopping this time. What can my doctor do? Is she allowed to be discussing this with my parents even though I am NOT a minor anymore? To me this seems to be a slippery slope concerning the ethics of doctor patient confidentiality.

Answer 1

I would change doctors. End of problem. However, I would also be up front with my doctor about using marijuana. It's possible that your use of it could be relevant and that could be an important disclosure on your part to help your doctor make a corect diagnosis.

Doctor patient confidentiality prevents your doctor from reporting you to law enforcement. However, doctors have differing attitudes when it comes to marijuana use. Find one that is tolerant so that you can be comfortable discussing ALL aspects of your health without getting paranoid about it.

There are many doctors out there who believe in the medicinal qualities of cannabis, and would prefer to see it legalized for med use. If you live in a state with medical marijuana laws, your doctor can prescribe it so that you may legally possess and smoke free of fear from state or local prosecution. Federally, it is still a crime, even in states with med laws.

Answer 2

After 18 I believe all future medical treatment is confidential. The physican is suppose to get your permission to discuss your case with anyone. While you are right on that issue, in your shoes i wouldn't push the issue. Ethically, the doctor could have already contacted the authorities.

Answer 3

The doctor cannot discuss your medical treatment with anyone else -- even your parents -- once you are an adult, unless you consent.

Absent your consent, they are not only violating their ethical obligations for confidentiality, they are also possibly violating relevant laws -- if you have not given consent.

Note -- this answer does not apply with regard to informing law enforcement on potentially illegal conduct -- that's a whole separate legal answer.

Answer 4

if she is under the age of 18 they might enable her dad and mom understand. yet while she is eighteen or older they can't tell her dad and mom.. they'll in all probability only tell her that it extremely is a foul regarded as making use of those drugs and kinda supply her a slap on the hand in case you already know what i mean. in view that she does no longer have the medicine on her, they can't arrest her, or get her introuble any way. And in the event that they are taking checks to work out if she has an ailment, they'll in all probability no longer be doing drug checks, that's a separate try. they might try for each thing and discover it, yet in all probability wont do something approximately it.

Answer 5

Well, obviously these conversations started when you were a minor, so just tell your doctor that the rules have changed now, and if you state to him that he's not to discuss your medical history or test results with your parents, then he has to abide by that.