Respect for Patient Confidentiality Must Not Be Dependent Upon a Fee: The Case of Adolescents’ Access to Contraceptives in Ontario

  • Julien Brisson Bioethics Program, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5106-3122
Keywords: adolescent, bioethics, confidentiality, contraceptive, Ontario
Language(s): English

Abstract

In Ontario, adolescents can be confidentially prescribed contraceptives. However, some adolescents must pay pharmacies to have their confidentiality respected when it comes to contraceptives; if their parents’ private insurance plan covers them, the adolescent has to pay out of pocket to be given contraceptive in a confidential manner. It is unethical to make anyone pay to have their confidentiality respected, particularly for a vulnerable population like adolescents who tend to be economically disadvantaged.

Published
2023-04-06
How to Cite
[1]
Brisson J. Respect for Patient Confidentiality Must Not Be Dependent Upon a Fee: The Case of Adolescents’ Access to Contraceptives in Ontario. Can. J. Bioeth. 2023;6:116-7. https://doi.org/10.7202/1098569ar.
Section
Letter to the Editor