If you care for both a teenage patient and their parent, how would you handle a situation where the parent asks you about the teen’s confidential health concerns?

Specialty-Specific

Purpose

This question checks how you balance a teen's confidentiality with a parent's concerns. Interviewers want to see if you can uphold ethical standards while communicating effectively with both parties.

Tips

  • Start by emphasizing the teen's confidentiality and why it's important.
  • Show empathy for the parent's worries without sharing any specific details.
  • Offer to facilitate a conversation between the teen and parent if the teen is comfortable.

Common mistakes

  • Don't just say 'I can't tell you' without explaining why confidentiality matters.
  • Avoid sounding dismissive of the parent's concerns; they need to feel heard.
  • Don't breach confidentiality by revealing any specific health information about the teen.