At a glance
- As a teen, you can have a say in your medical care.
- ‘Confidentiality’ is an agreement between you and your doctor (or other health worker) that the health information you share will be kept private.
- You have a right to privacy and confidentiality when you see a doctor.
- You don’t have to tell your parents about your health issues, but it’s usually safer if they or another trusted adult knows what you are dealing with.
- Always call an ambulance (000) in a health emergency.
My body, my choices
Parents or guardians make most health choices for young children, like taking them to the doctor, getting medicines, and signing forms. Adults usually look after their health by going to the doctor alone and making their own decisions. As a teen, you
sit somewhere in between. You might need an adult sometimes, but not all the time. You understand more about your health and can have a say in your medical care.
Even if you don’t make any health choices on your own yet, it’s important to practice taking responsibility for your health before you become an adult.
What is ‘confidentiality’ and why does it matter?
‘Confidentiality’ is an agreement between you and your local doctor (general practitioner, or ‘GP’) or other health worker that what you talk about will be kept private. This means in most cases, your GP will only share your information with others if
you agree.
Confidential health care means:
- having some time alone with your GP (without a parent or guardian)
- seeing your GP in a private room
- your health record and what you tell your GP won’t be shared without your permission. This includes your parents, unless you agree to tell them.
Limits of confidentiality
Sometimes, your GP must tell a parent, guardian or someone else about what you have shared to keep you safe. This is called ‘breaking confidentiality’ or the ‘limits of confidentiality.’
Your GP might need to break confidentiality if:
- you might hurt yourself
- someone else is hurting you
- someone else might get hurt
- it's a health emergency
- you can’t give consent.
You might not be able to consent on your own if your GP thinks you don't fully understand the reasons, risks and benefits of a health choice. For example, your GP might let you consent to a simple treatment like antibiotics without your parents. But for
a more serious or long-term health condition, such as a new diagnosis of diabetes, an adult usually needs to know.
What are my rights?
You have a right to private and confidential health care if:
- you are old enough (usually around 14 years and older)
- it's safe for your information to stay private
- you can give informed consent. This means you understand the reasons, long-term effects, risks and benefits of your health choices.
From around age 14, you can start seeing a doctor alone for at least part of the appointment. You can also make choices about simple medical treatments like antibiotics or contraception.
From age 15, you can usually get your own Medicare card. This card gives Australian citizens, permanent residents and some other people access to health care at low or no cost.
From age 16, you can agree to most medical treatments yourself.
Your doctor can
- Speak with you alone for part or all of your appointment
- Order tests without your parent knowing, if you can consent
- Prescribe some medicines without your parents knowing, if you can consent
- Break confidentiality sometimes if you or another person is unsafe, or you can’t consent.
Your doctor should
- Always speak with you in a respectful, non-judgmental way
- Talk to you about privacy and confidentiality
- Ask for your permission before telling a parent, guardian or other health service about anything you have shared. If another adult needs to know, your GP should work with you to decide the best way to tell them.
Your doctor can’t
- Do a physical exam without your permission
- Make you take medicines
- Give your full medical record to your parents or anyone else
- Make you tell your parents or another adult about your health unless you or someone else is not safe
- Let you say no to treatments if your life is in danger or for very serious health conditions.
Do I have to tell my parents about my health issues?
You don’t have to tell your parents about your health issues, but it’s usually safer if they or another trusted adult knows what you are dealing with, including any medicines you are taking. This means they can help when you are sick or in danger.
Your GP can help you speak with your parents about your health if you don’t feel comfortable doing it alone.
Sometimes, you might not want your parents to know about your health issues. This might be okay if you and your GP agree that:
- you are old enough
- you understand all the risks and benefits
- it's safe for your parents not to know.
A tip from Nurse Chanel: Confidentiality
I need medical help. Where do I start?
If you need medical advice, it’s a good idea to tell a parent or trusted adult first. They can help you find information, book a doctor’s appointment, or take you to a hospital if you need help quickly.
Another good place to start is the internet. If your health issue is not urgent, you might want to read some information online. Just make sure you use a reliable source, such as The Royal Children’s Hospital or Better Health Channel. For mental health
support, you can trust sources like headspace and Kids Helpline.
If you have a trusted GP, you can ask them for advice, too.
Always call an ambulance (000) in an emergency.
Things you might be wondering
Where can I find my health records?
You can access some parts of your health records online. But for others, you will need to ask your GP or fill out a special form.
In Australia, your vaccine (immunisation) record is available online from MyGov. You can ask your GP for a printed copy of any test results, lists of medicines, and copies of referral letters. Some hospitals
have a ‘patient portal’ online where you can see your test results and some doctors’ notes.
There is also ‘My Health Record’ – this is the government’s digital health system. It’s an ‘opt-out’ model, which means you will automatically have a My Health Record unless you say you don’t want one. This is not the same as your official
health record. My Health Record doesn’t contain the notes your GP or doctors in hospital write. It has details of prescription medicines, blood tests and imaging results, and your discharge summaries if you have been to hospital. If you
are under 14 years old, your parents can access your My Health Record. After you turn 14, your parents can’t access your My Health Record anymore, unless you invite them to.
Your official health record is what a doctor or hospital writes in the notes whenever you get medical help. To get a copy of your official health record, you need to apply through ‘Freedom of Information.’
Depending on how old you are, you might need your parents’ permission.
Can I use Medicare without telling my parents?
If you are around 14 years old and still on your family’s Medicare card, your parents might see that you went to the doctor, but they won't see why or what you spoke about.
You can get your own Medicare card if you are 15 years old or older. It will work for doctor and hospital visits, and prescription medicines from a pharmacy. Nobody else will
be able to see what you have used Medicare for.
I had a bad experience getting medical care. Who can I talk to?
If you think someone has breached your rights or you have had a bad experience with a doctor, start by speaking to a parent or another adult you trust. You can also contact the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA) to
report a doctor if they have done something wrong.
Helpful links
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital; medical review by the Adolescent Medicine department. Created with advice from the RCH Health Literacy Youth Advisory Committee.
Reviewed August 2025
Speak with a doctor for up-to-date and personalised medical advice.