Adolescent Confidentiality and Women's Health: History, Rationale, and Current Threats

Adolescent access to reproductive health services, mental health services, and treatment of drug and alcohol use depends on teens' rights to consent and confidentiality in the state in which they live. This article reviews the history, current practices, and potential challenges to confidentiality, including Title X funding, questions about brain development and ability to make autonomous choices, and meaningful use practices in electronic records. Resources are provided for professional position statements and individual state regulations.