Mother Enquiring About 17-Year-Old Son's Appointments
MMIMediumAnswer the question
Mother Enquiring About 17-Year-Old Son's Appointments
The mother of a 17-year-old boy patient telephones and enquires whether her son has been attending his appointments with you. What would you do?
At what age can a patient independently control their own healthcare information?
Would your answer change if the patient were 15 instead of 17?
How would you document this interaction?
Speak it out loud and we'll type it for you (free), or type your own notes — then mark yourself below.
- Four pillars: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice.
- Name the conflict → weigh both sides → gather more info → safe, patient-centred action.
What strong answers doReveal the benchmark
Hidden so they don't bias your answer. Score yourself first, then reveal them to compare.
- A 17-year-old has the right to confidentiality in most circumstances; you should not disclose information without the patient's consent.
- Consider Gillick Competence and Fraser Guidelines when thinking about adolescent patients.
- Explain that you would seek to contact the patient directly and advise them of the enquiry.
Mark yourself
Score each skill against the rubric, then add a line of evidence. Scale:
Ethical Awareness
0/3Should demonstrate understanding of patient autonomy and confidentiality rights for near-adult patients
Law Knowledge
0/3Should reference Gillick Competence and the legal framework around patient records
Communication
0/3Ability to explain the situation sensitively to the mother without breaching patient confidentiality
Professionalism
0/3Would document the call and inform the patient