Virtual Mentor. March 2005, Volume 7, Number 03

Ethics Poll

When do adolescents count as people?

The Ethics Poll is a snapshot of the opinions of interested readers.

Do you think breast augmentation should be performed on a 17-year-old?
Never.
If she requests it.
If she and her parents request it.
If she has undergone screening exams by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or primary care physician.

Parents ask a physician to perform a drug screen on their adolescent son who denies drug use. The physician should:
Order the drug screen as the parents request.
Order the drug screen only if the adolescent is acting intoxicated.
Do not order the drug screen without the adolescent's consent.

A 16-year-old seeks a prescription for contraceptives, and asks the physician not to tell her parents. The physician should:
Inform the girl's parents of her request.
Try to convince the adolescent to talk it over with her parents before providing the prescription.
Provide the prescription on condition that she returns for a follow-up.
Provide the prescription as requested.

I received training in adolescent medicine during medical school.
Yes
No

View results
Poll results reflect the opinions of visitors to the site who voluntarily answer the poll questions. Those visitors do not represent a random sample of Virtual Mentor readers. The viewpoints expressed on this site are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the AMA.