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Do I need permission from my parents or guardians to get treatment from a doctor or other healthcare
provider?
If a doctor is seeing a young person, what they have to do is decide whether you're capable
of giving informed consent or not.
So they might ask you some questions, just to make sure that you understand what's going
on.
There's no magic age in the law that says you suddenly turn into an independent adult
at such-and-such an age. It depends on you, and your ability to understand.
So let's just say you're 15 years of age, and you're going to see a doctor because you
want to have the contraceptive pill, and you do not want your parents to know. The doctor
will ask you some questions in order to understand your level of comprehension. If they're satisfied
that you're able to give informed consent, then they must respect your wishes for confidentiality.
For more information, visit the Youth Disability Rights Hub at www.youthdisabilityrights.org.au.