There are confidentiality laws that protect the doctor and patient relationship. Actually, minors under 17 years of age are entitled and allowed to a confidential relationship with their healthcare provider. This is something to think about when you are choosing a doctor for your child. Is my child going to be comfortable talking about this sensitive subject? That person can actually be a safety net, someone in your life that is an informed adult that is someone that your child can go and talk to, versus a friend or a family member. When I see young people in the office, I'll tell them that if they have something that they want to talk to me about, they can always call me on their cell phones. It is confidential unless I feel like they are a danger to themselves or to others. Then I would break confidentiality. I think it is important to be clear with those young people about what confidentiality is.