Knowing Your Rights People have certain rights regarding their healthcare. Federal and state laws describe and protect these rights. For example, people who receive healthcare have the right to privacy. According to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patients must consent before their private health information can be shared. A doctor would need a patient’s consent to share medical information with another doctor. People also have the right to seek healthcare and to give or withhold consent for treatment. To give consent, a person must be capable of fully understanding the decisions involved. For example, a person with a serious intellectual disability or debilitating physical condition might not be able to give consent. In most states, minors, or people under the age of 18, also do not have full rights to consent to healthcare. Instead, parents or guardians usually make these decisions with minors. Even though minors do not have full rights, however, they do have some rights to seek and consent to certain types of healthcare (Figure 2.13). Minors’ rights to access healthcare depend on state laws. If unsure about state laws, teens can ask their doctors for information about consent, decisions, and parent or guardian notification. They can also research this information online. minors people under the age of 18 Minors Can Consent for… general medical and surgical care ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in 21 states medical care and counseling for substance abuse ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in 44 states outpatient mental health services ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in 20 states inpatient mental health services in 0 states STI testing and treatment (over 16 years of age) ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in all 50 states HIV testing and treatment ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in 32 states reproductive health services ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in 25 states prenatal care, delivery services, medical care for a baby ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● in 27 states Figure 2.13 In some cases, healthcare providers are authorized or required to notify a parent or guardian about decisions regarding the healthcare of minors. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 2 Health and Wellness Skills 53