Legal Issues in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care for Adolescents

Adolescents are frequent visitors to the emergency department (ED), and many use the ED as their only source of care. They may choose to obtain treatment in the ED for the anonymity and privacy it affords and may be unaccompanied by a parent who can provide consent for treatment. The provision of sexual and reproductive health care to adolescents in the ED presents challenges to the medical provider specifically with regard to consent and confidentiality issues. This review discusses the various state and federal laws governing the provision of sexual and reproductive health care services to adolescents, including the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, contraceptive services, prenatal care, and abortion services. We review the circumstances under which an adolescent is entitled to confidential care, when parental consent for treatment may not be required, and when parental notification may be necessary.