A 15-year-old patient you see is diagnosed with a chlamydia eye infection
In each issue, Acuity poses a topical question on a tricky scenario to a panel of members.
Sajjad Ahmad
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields
The main issues here are confidentiality and decision-making competence. Legally, patients over 16 years have capacity to consent for treatment. For those under this age, it depends on the patient’s competence to make decisions – Gillick competence. In this case, I would ask to see the patient alone. If they agreed, I would encourage them to inform their parents and offer to facilitate a discussion. If they wanted to be seen with their parent, I would inform both of the chlamydia and then give them time and space in the clinic to have a private conversation. Safeguarding concerns and lack of competence would make me override confidentiality in this case.
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