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Kids Health Info

Health care privacy – teens and young people

  • Key points

    • Teens have a right to health care privacy.
    • Empowering your teen to have a say in their health will encourage them to look after themselves and be more independent.
    • If a doctor or health professional thinks your teen is in danger, they will break confidentiality to keep them safe.
    • Your teen may be unable to consent on their own if their doctor does not think they understand the reasons, risks and benefits of a health choice.

    Read the teen fact sheet

    What is health care confidentiality?

    In a health care setting, confidentiality – also known as doctor-patient confidentiality – is a legal agreement between a patient and a health professional that limits information sharing without consent. This means health professionals can only share patient information with others if the patient or their parent or guardian agrees.

    Why is health care privacy important for teens?

    Empowering teens to have a say in their health is an important part of growing up. It encourages them to look after themselves and become independent. Sometimes, young people avoid getting the medical help they need because they are worried about privacy. They may not want to tell a parent or guardian about their health concerns due to fear or embarrassment.

    Teens have a right to confidential health care. For teens around 14 years and older, confidential health care means:

    • alone time with their doctor (without a parent or guardian)
    • seeing their doctor in a private room
    • their health record and anything they tell their doctor will be kept private unless they agree to share.

    Limits of doctor-patient confidentiality

    If a doctor or health professional thinks your teen is in danger, they will break confidentiality to keep them safe.

    They may also break confidentiality if your teen:

    • may hurt themself
    • is being hurt by someone else
    • may hurt someone else
    • is having a health emergency
    • cannot give consent.

    Young people may be unable to consent on their own if their doctor does not think they understand the reasons, risks and benefits of a health choice. For example, teens may consent to a simple treatment like antibiotics on their own. However, in more serious cases, such as long-term health conditions with lasting effects like a new diabetes diagnosis, doctors will typically involve a parent or guardian.

    What are my teen’s rights?

    Your teen has a right to private and confidential health care if:

    • they are old enough (usually around 14 years and older)
    • it is safe for their information to stay private
    • they can give informed consent. This means a doctor believes they understand the reasons, long-term effects, risks and benefits of their health choices.

    From around 14 years old, young people can start seeing a doctor alone for at least part of their appointment. They can also make choices about simple medical treatments like antibiotics or contraception. At 15 years old, they can usually get their own Medicare card, and by 16 years old, they can agree to most medical treatments themselves.

    There is no exact age under 18 that guarantees health care privacy. If your teen has a severe medical condition like cancer and their doctor does not think they understand the risks and benefits, they are likely to require your input.

    Your teen’s doctor can

    • See your teen on their own for part, or all, of their appointment
    • Order tests without you knowing, if your teen can consent
    • Prescribe some medicines without you knowing, if your teen can consent
    • Break confidentiality sometimes if your teen or someone else is not safe, or if they cannot give consent.

    Your teen’s doctor should

    • Always speak with your teen in a respectful, non-judgmental way
    • Talk to your teen about privacy and confidentiality
    • Ask your teen’s permission before telling you or another health service about anything they have shared.

    Your teen’s doctor cannot

    • Do a physical examination without your teen’s permission
    • Make your teen take medicines
    • Give your teen’s full medical record to you or anyone else
    • Make your teen tell you or another adult about their health unless someone is in danger
    • Let your teen reject treatments if their life is in danger or for severe health conditions.

    Common questions about teen health care privacy

    Does my teen have to tell me about their health issues?

    Your teen does not have to share their health issues with you if they do not want to. Their doctor will usually encourage them to share information with you. However, it is up to your teen whether they feel comfortable doing so. If you are worried about your teen’s health, you may wish to speak with their doctor and raise your concerns. They will decide whether it is safe to maintain confidentiality.

    Can I access my teen’s health records?

    In Australia, ‘My Health Record’ is the government’s digital health system; it keeps most health information in one place online. My Health Record includes prescriptions given and filled, hospital discharge summaries and results of blood tests, imaging and COVID-19 tests. If your teen is under 14, you can access their record and see their health information via My Health Record. Once they turn 14, you will no longer have access to their health record unless they invite you to be a nominated representative.

    My Health Record does not include health professionals’ notes and consultation details. To see these, you must apply through Freedom of Information.

    I am worried about my teen’s health. How can I encourage them to speak to me about it?

    The best thing you can do to get your teen to share their health concerns is to maintain open and supportive lines of communication. Over time, this will make you a safe person for your teen to confide in. Avoid forcing them to tell you personal things; this may embarrass them and build resentment.

    My teen had a bad experience getting medical care. How do we make a complaint?

    If your teen has had a bad health care experience or you suspect someone has breached their rights, start by speaking with the doctor to understand what has happened. You can contact the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA) to make a formal complaint.

    For more information


    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Adolescent Medicine department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed August 2025

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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