Learning scenario
Learning scenario
A 15-year-old asks you for combined oral contraception. You can see from your pharmacy records that it has been prescribed in the past.
What do you do?
- Refer the patient to their GP as they are under 16 years
- Check they are competent to give consent
- Ask them to return with their parents or guardians
- Provide very light touch information because of their age
Answers: Learning Scenario
a. Refer the patient to their GP as they are under 16 years of age
INCORRECT. Pharmacy services don’t usually exclude on the basis of age.
b. Check they are competent to consent
CORRECT. In the UK, competence to consent to medical treatment must be demonstrated by under-16s.
c. Ask them to return with their parents or guardians
INCORRECT. Parental consent is not required as long as the patient can demonstrate competence themselves.
d. Provide very light touch information on the basis of their age
INCORRECT. While information should be provided in an age-appropriate way, part of establishing competence is assessing that the individual has understood all relevant information in order to make
a decision. Missing some things out on the basis of age is not good practice.