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Question: Does a girl have the right to see a doctor to see if she is pregnant without her parents knowing?

Answer: In Arizona, unless a girl under age 18 is married, is in the armed forces, or unless her parents have acted in such a way that they lost parental rights (all three of these mean that she is an emancipated minor) it is unlikely that she can get medical care of any kind without her parent's consent, and therefore without their knowledge. A doctor cannot treat a patient without the consent of the patient, and a minor is probably not able to give consent under the law. (This is different for a girl over the age of 18, who is an adult and can do what she wants to do.)

A parent has the right and the duty to care for and control a child until they turn 18. This extends to making decisions about her medical care.

If a girl is in need of medical care (a pregnant girl needs prenatal care) and the parent is not providing it, then the girl may be able to get help from the state. However, this cannot be done without the parents knowing about it.

Although not specifically asked, abortion is a topic important to this answer. According to Arizona law (ARS ยง 36-2152), a minor cannot have an abortion unless she has written consent from one parent, or her guardian, or if a judge authorizes the abortion. This law allows a minor to file a petition for a hearing at which time the judge will decide if an abortion should go forward without the consent of the parents. This hearing can take place without the parents being informed.

A doctor may perform an abortion without permission from the parent or from a court if the minor certified to him that the pregnancy resulted from sexual conduct with a parent, stepparent, uncle, grandparent, sibling, adoptive parent, legal guardian, foster parent or a person who lives in the same household as the minor and her mother. He must then make a report to law enforcement officials, who will investigate.

A doctor may also perform an abortion if he believes, based on his review of the medical records of the minor that there is a medical condition that makes it necessary for an immediate abortion to save her life, or where delay will create a risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of major bodily function.


Comments
11 thru 15 of 38 comments
On 02/10/04
Joe from AZ said:
Dude, your so wrong! The constitution does not even aply to you! Your a minor, you are your parents property! Sorry to tell you that, but your outta luck till yur 18!
On 02/02/04
Byron 3 from AZ said:
A girl should at lest tell her parents if she wants to have sex or if she is pregnant.
On 01/31/04
Rabbit from AZ said:
YES i really do belive that the girl should be able to go and they would be able to tell her parents in a police department that way she will be safe from her parents rath!!!!! and way yes is my answer and best thing to do is that you hsould wait till you have a high school deploma behind you.
On 01/29/04
heather from OH said:
hey no matter where you live there are laws ohios arent like arizonas though
On 01/28/04
Jannah from FL said:
You can always wait until your period rolls around... or a home pregnancy test. I dont know if you need ID to buy one, but its really easy to get your hands on anything if you have enough money. And heres a SHOCKER... condoms! Use em', safe sex is good sex; just avoid the conflict all-together. And if you think there is a big chance you are pregnant, not just paranoia, then you should tell your parents anyway, no matter how they're going to react. Because if you are pregnant, your helpless without the support of your parents. People make mistakes, and you are one of many. Your parents should
11 thru 15 of 38 comments



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