contraception and the Law
...Health .(1985) became a landmark case. It concerned the access of contraceptive advise and prescriptions for children under 16, without parental consent. The law concluded in favour of the under 16’s right to contraceptive advise without parental consent. The decision to give advise and prescriptions however still lie in the hands of the professionals. They must access the competence of teenagers to understand information imparted prior to providing contraception, known as ‘Gillick Competence’. Research however by Cromer and McCarthy (1999) found that half of G.P’s would not see those under the age of 16 without parental consent. This evidence was found despite a clear commitment from the Medical Association, and others in 1994 to maintain confidentiality (Mellanby et al 1995).This issue must be addressed if the governments target is to be met. Contraception in the adolescent The rate of contracepti...