ABSTRACT
Dealing with children and young people can bring a number of potential dilemmas. What do I do if a 15-year-old refuses a test or treatment? Can I treat a child if the parents aren’t there? What happens if a young person tells me something in confidence that I need to share? In all of our dealings with children we need to be aware of, and work within, what the law and national guidance require of us. Clearly an exhaustive review of this topic is outside the scope of this book, but in this chapter we will first consider terms used in relation to consulting with children (such as parental responsibility and ‘Gillick competence’), and current legislation on consent, refusal of consent and the treatment of an unaccompanied child. Finally, we will look at issues of confidentiality when dealing with children and families. At the end of the chapter is a summary of the legislative backdrop to all our consultations involving children and young people. This is referenced for those who wish to find out more.
