Will dr’s give me DD medical records

[Funparsnip]

DD is 15, she went to the doctors yesterday but won’t tell me why. I’m waiting for the morning rush to die down and then will ring the surgery and ask. If the receptionist can’t tell me, can I do a request for her medical records seeing as she’s a minor and I’m her parent? I only found out by accident so now I’m wondering how many other times she’s gone and not told me! Very very tempted to read her diary but that would be an invasion of her privacy.

But how would her mum knowing she’s requested contraception be any different to her accessing it alone? Accidents can still happen either way with contraception and her mum knowing she was having sex wouldn’t prevent any different outcome. The GP or nurse would explain how to use any contraception more effectively than her mum would anyway.

No they won’t tell you anything. Just be thankful that she’s accessing proper medical advice for whatever her problem is and maybe take a look in the mirror to work out why she won’t confide in you.

No, they won't tell you anything providing they've assessed Gillick competency and made the decision that she is old enough to consent to medical treatment in the absence of a parent. Which they must have done to see her without you in the first place. I work with children and young people in a partially related field and we don't have to tell parents their child is accessing our services or gain parental consent, providing they're aged 12+ and are assessed as Gillick competent.

But but but…. For all of those things going to the GP is the right thing to do. Why would you be worried about that?! The GP will be able to help much better than the overreacting mother.

Simply google your question OP. You’ll be presented with the legal facts.

If the Dr thinks your 15 yr old "Gillick competent" and you daughter doesnt consent to you having access to her medical records then no.
You say you have spoken to your daughter and she doesnt want you to know.
Why do you think that is?
Did she tell you she went to the Dr or did you discover that some other way (?how)
Have you told your daughter you are trying to access her medical records when she has expressly said she doesn't want that?
If this were my daughter id say you have the right to privacy in medical consultations. I love you regardless. If you ever feel you need to discuss anything with me,i'm here.you are entitled to privacy, but know this, if i think you are in danger i will go to the ends of the earth to help you. Your wellbeing is my primary concern,i want what is for your greater good and i will never judge you.
I trust you.
My friends daughter at 15 had a DVT after taking the contraceptive pill (parent unaware),the girl didnt undertand the danger or connection to the pill when she had a red painful swelling on her calf,(she thought shed knocked her leg at hockey) it lead to a pulomary embolis and became life threatening.
Her mum realised/guessed and got emergency medical aid.
The daughter said she wished she had told her mum and fully understood the symptoms may be connected to the pill.

I think you should be more concerned about why she doesn’t feel able to speak to you, rather than worrying about why she went to the gp.

If they feel your daughter is able to make her own decisions, they would ask your daughter for permission to share the records and if she said yes, share them.

If she doesn't want you to know why she went, you really need to respect that. And feel reassured that she is behaving responsibly and seeking expert advice on whatever.

It would drive me mad if my teen did this, too. I get it. But there's nothing you can do and you need to learn to sit with the fact that she is getting older and not sharing everything with you any more.

If she needs you, she will ask for you. Unless you fuck this up and she feels she can't trust you. Is your relationship otherwise strong?

If she’s been assessed as Gillick competent then she doesn’t need your permission to go alone and you’re not entitled to know why she went

15 year olds absolutely need privacy.

They need protecting from overbearing, inflexible parents that don't let them have a voice.

I would hate it if my son saw a GP and flatly refused to tell me why.

But he is his own person and seeking expert support is in and of itself evidence of maturity.

Well ring up and ask! Quite easy!

No you won’t be given access

Good on her for taking control of her health.

She is 15 years old and she has got herself to the Drs to discuss an issue with them. That is a very mature thing to do. She will resent you for years if you try and force her to tell you. Just accept it and make sure she knows she can come to you about it when she is ready.

"This thread isn’t about whether or not I SHOULD ring the drs, I just want to know if I CAN get her records as she’s a minor!"

The short answer is NO. Here's the longer answer directly from the NHS...

Children's rights, capacity and consent
Children have the same legal rights over their data as adults. The GP surgery must get the child's consent before giving access to their online GP services, if the child is able to understand and make an informed decision. This is called having capacity.
Children aged 11 or over are usually considered to have the capacity to consent, or refuse access, unless for example they have a medical condition or learning disability that affects their understanding.

The more you dig at this, the more you will push her away.

YABU shes entitled to her privacy

Also if I “sat down” my teens in the kind of manner implied by the ops post and demanded to know why they went to the doctor they’d probably clam up even if it was for a common or garden ear ache.

If the GP considers her Gillick competent, they will not share without her permission.
It really is very important that you don't try to invade her privacy here. Every person has autonomy over their own body and health. You would be much better served telling her that you are concerned for her and letting her know that you are happy to support her whatever the reason and that she can come to you with any situation in life and you will help her. Assure her that you are proud of her taking responsibility for her health but that she doesn't have to do anything on her own if she doesn't want to because you are her biggest fan and closest ally, always. Then leave it for now. Just let her know that the door is always open if she wants to discuss it.

Without her permission they will not tell you anything and you won't be entitled to view her medical records. That is absolutely as it should be. If they speak to you without her express permission, or give access to her medical records, then that would be a serious breach of her patient confidentiality.

There are degrees of being a minor. Put simply, if your child is under 11 (and probably still in primary school) then you are expected to be involved in their medical care and decision making. Over that age and through their teenage years most are considered to be increasingly competent to have private consultations on their own and able to make their own decisions without always involving a parent.

Sorry that's not what you want to hear, but that is how it is. Rightly so.

Only look at her diary if you want to destroy any of her trust in you. That would be a very disrespectful way to behave, and a total invasion of her privacy.

That would certainly destroy your relationship with her. Is that what you want?

Gillick competence - Look this up, it applies to any children over 12 years old.. As your daugher is 15, it is unlikely you will be given access to her records unless she consents or unless she has dificulties which mean she is not Gillick competent

You are one of those parents who misses the point by a mile.

You needed to build her trust for you over her lifetime. Not sitting her down and demanding she tell you

I presume this isn’t the first time you have broken her trust

Op it’s more likely contraception and you should just be glad she’s being mature about it really

What happens if the doctors tell you and then you tell her that you know.

She is likely be more guarded around you
Get used to the fact she doesn’t trust you

Even If that meant your teen never went to the doctors because they knew it wasn’t going to be a private consultation and that then destroyed their health

15 year olds do need privacy. At 16 if she needs a hospital stay she will be put in the adult ward. At 16 she is considered an adult.