Adolescent Consent and Confidentiality in the UK

Cave, Emma

doi:10.1163/092902709x12506817652775

Adolescent Consent and Confidentiality in the UK

Cave, Emma

Authors

Professor Emma Cave emma.cave@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Abstract

In R (Axon) v Secretary of State for Health the Gillick competence test was confirmed. Commitment to childhood autonomy and privacy rights caused renewed academic criticism of the 'refusal' cases. This paper considers the form any changes to the law may take, and the potential consequences for the rights of parents and young people. Silber J.'s contention that parental Article 8 rights cease when the child makes a competent decision is potentially problematic if applied to refusal cases, especially in the context of the distinction between competence to consent to treatment and to the disclosure of information.

Citation

Cave, E. (2009). Adolescent Consent and Confidentiality in the UK. European Journal of Health Law, 16(4), 309-331. https://doi.org/10.1163/092902709x12506817652775

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Jan 1, 2009
Deposit Date	Jul 10, 2013
Publicly Available Date	May 21, 2014
Journal	European Journal of Health Law
Print ISSN	0929-0273
Electronic ISSN	1571-8093
Publisher	Brill Academic Publishers
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	16
Issue	4
Pages	309-331
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1163/092902709x12506817652775
Keywords	Consent, Privacy, Children, Gillick, Confidentiality, Axon.