Treating Teenagers

To celebrate adolescent month in May, I'm going to have a series of articles on adolescents. In my brief fatherhood experience which is a total of 7 human years, I’ve yet to parent adolescents.  However, I have taken care of many adolescents in the 16 years I have been involved in the healthcare industry. 

The main issues in adolescence are physical, emotional, and psychological changes.  Some of these changes can create lots of challenges across the spectrum of healthcare as well.  It is important for doctors to build relationships with young people to help them become responsible health-care decision makers.  I think social issues that dominate an adolescent’s life can be actively managed with that personal relationship.

If you take the top 3 causes of death in adolescents; accidents, homicides, and suicides, you can see the importance of building a relationship with adolescents.  At the intersection of important social issues of life, adolescents can do real well and be successful, or they can go down a road that can lead to prison.  

As adolescents mature, the doctor can assist them and the parents with those changes.  Because of the sensitivity of some of these issues, it is important to communicate the legalities of adolescent medicine.

When a minor is able to consent remains a sensitive issue.  Some young people do not want their parents in the room when they are with a doctor.  The important thing to remember is that the doctor is legally required to maintain confidentiality except as permitted by Texas law.  I always have patient parent in room at first, and if it is a general exam, I like to ask patient sensitive issues in private.  It is important to know if they are engaged in intercourse, if they have friends, and if their friends are doing things that make them uncomfortable.  These are just a few of the many questions we need to ask.

A minor can consent to treatment by a physician if they are in active duty with armed services, 16 years or older, living away from parents, managing their own finances, unmarried and pregnant, unmarried and parent of child and has actual custody of the child, and consenting to diagnosis or treatment of infectious disease, or communicable disease that is reportable to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).  A minor can consent to examination or treatment for chemical addiction, dependency, for counseling for suicide prevention, or sexual, physical or emotional abuse. Texas Family Code 32.003-.004

The overall well-being of adolescents begins with a good parent-patient-doctor relationship.  And getting patients to coincide with good health is our goal.  May good health be with you!