The official term is Consent to Treatment, and this is determined by whether or not a clinician thinks that a client understands what’s going on and is capable of consenting to medical treatment or procedures, regardless of age. This means that, legally speaking, you technically don’t need your parent’s permission to go get an STI test, to get a prescription for birth control, to get an abortion, etc.
Now, we say “legally speaking” because we know that this doesn’t always reflect the reality of people’s lives – Not everyone has access to their health card, some people’s parents would flip out if they knew their kid was using The Pill, and some clinics *do* require parental consent if people are under 16.
Planned Parenthood Toronto [Link] is a youth-focused sexual health clinic (as well as being the organization that runs Teen Health Source). They see people between the ages of 13 – 29. And since going to the doctor for sexual health stuff can be anxiety producing (especially if you’re under 18), the folks at PPT put together an info pamphlet called Youth and Healthcare Rights. This info pamphlet lays out what rights youth have coming to the clinic, discusses confidentiality, and gives folks a heads up on when they might have to disclose sensitive information. For a downloadable resource on this topic, please visit Planned Parenthood Toronto Factsheet Database.
Your privacy is important. We take the following measures to ensure confidentiality:
There are times when we are required by law to share your information without your prior consent. These are:
This information is also found on the Health Services Client Agreement that you sign when you first register at PPT. We will remind you that you don’t have to tell a healthcare provider anything that you are uncomfortable sharing. You have the right to choose how much or how little you want to discuss.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) classifies some infections (including some STIs) as reportable, communicable infections. These include infections like gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV or hepatitis. If you test positive for one of these, the result is sent to TPH. You will be contacted by TPH if:
At PPT, you can make a complaint using a Client Complaint Reporting form that you can find in our clinical reception area or get from our front desk receptionist. You can also make a complaint by email, mail, in person or over the phone.
Additionally, the following agencies can be contacted if you have a complaint or concern about a service provider at any clinic:
If you believe that your privacy rights are not being respected, PPT has a privacy complaints procedure. You can find out about the procedure and file a complaint by contacting the Privacy Officer of PPT at privacy@ppt.on.ca or 416.961.0113 ext. 143
If you are not satisfied with any clinics response to your privacy complaint you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario:
If you have questions about this topic, feel free to contact one of our peer educators. [Link]
Last Updated: July 2021
People give a lot of reasons for why they don’t like using condoms. But are these reasons legit? This post explores some of the things people say to get out of using condoms, and also offers up some solutions to work through the excuses!
What’s one thing that people don’t talk enough about when it comes to having sex for the first time: Pleasure! Join us for this fun and breezy conversation about some of the myths, worries, and strategies people can use when it comes to having sex for the first time.
Do you ever find it hard to focus on sex? Whether with a partner or by yourself, do you find your mind drifting off? It’s very common! This post goes over some of the reasons why and what you can try to do about it.
