Your rights at the doctor

For free and confidential legal advice about this topic, you can contact us here.

How do I see a doctor without my parents?

There are no laws that stop you from seeing the doctor without your parents or guardians. However, if you plan on going alone, you should contact the doctors’ office beforehand to confirm you want the appointment to be kept private.

While you can see a doctor without your parents or guardians, a doctor can only give you medical treatment (eg prescribe you medication) if you give informed consent (except in emergencies where it is necessary to save your life or prevent serious damage to your health). Before you can give your consent to medical treatment, the doctor must make sure you understand the medical advice they have given you, the consequences of any treatment and any alternative treatments that may be available. 

You can also choose to have someone else come to a doctor’s appointment with you for support. This might be a friend or another family member.

When can I consent to medical treatment?

If you are 18 or older you can consent to medical treatment. There is no set age at which a young person who is under 18 can consent to medical treatment without the approval of their parents or guardian.

If you are under 18 whether you can consent to medical treatment will depend on whether the doctor thinks you fully understand the treatment, and any risks or consequences. Your doctor might consider:

• your age and maturity;
• how serious the treatment is;
• whether you understand the treatment and risks (for example, side effects and complications); and
• your ability to understand the wider consequences of the treatment (for example, effects on your family and any long-term emotional impact).

Even if you can’t consent by yourself, you should still be involved in the decision and asked for your views. You can always ask questions or ask the doctor to explain any medical words they use.

How do I keep my medical treatment private?

A doctor is someone you can talk to and trust.

A doctor is usually required to keep information about your appointment and your health private. However, a doctor can share your information with your consent, or in some other situations for example where they think you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. 

In some situations, a doctor has to share your information, even if you don’t agree, for example:

• if you are under 18 and your doctor (or another medical practitioner) thinks you have been or are being neglected or abused;
• if your doctor (or another medical practitioner) thinks another young person who is under 18 is or has been abused or neglected;
• you have an infectious disease (for example, chlamydia, HIV, malaria or syphilis) your doctor must notify the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. 

Usually a doctor should talk to you first, before they share your information. If you are worried about a doctor sharing your information, you can talk to them about your concerns.

How do I pay for medical treatment?

Most of the time simple visits to the doctor will be paid for by Medicare. However, depending on the doctor and medical treatment you have you might need to pay a fee.

What is Medicare? 

Medicare is a government service that pays some or all of the cost for Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and other persons living in Australia  to receive certain medical services (like visits to the doctor, dentist or hospital). In order to use Medicare you must have a Medicare card. Information about Medicare cards can be found here.

How do I pay using Medicare?

Not all medical services will be paid for by Medicare. You should ask about payment options before you make your appointment with your doctor. In particular, you should ask:

• “Does the doctor bulk bill?”
• “Will I have to pay a gap?”

If the doctor does not bulk bill, you may need to make a Medicare claim to get a refund after your appointment. Most refunds are paid directly into the bank account that is connected to your Medicare card. More information about claiming can be found here. 

Seeking medical treatment on your own – a checklist and animation

Will my parents know I’ve been to the doctor by using my Medicare card?

Your Medicare history can be accessed online through www.my.gov.au. If you are 14 years or over, you can create your own myGov account to be able to access this information. 

If you are listed on your parent’s or guardian’s Medicare card:

• if you are aged 14 or over, no one else can see your Medicare claim history online by logging into their MyGov account; or 
• if you are under the age of 14, your parents or guardians can see limited details about your Medicare claim history online via their MyGov account which will include information regarding the date your saw a doctor, amount paid and the rebate given by Medicare.

You or your parents may also have registered for a My Health Record. A My Health Record will contain certain health information you or your parents choose to include in it. It may include details of claims made for Medicare benefits, claims for pharmaceutical benefits, organ donator status and immunisations administered until the age of 20.

Your parents can access your My Health Record until you turn 14. After this, they can only see it with your written permission. You can find out more information about My Health Records here.

Information on different types of medical treatment

Find information about your rights at the doctor in other states

• The ACT
• The NT
• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Tasmania
• South Australia
• Western Australia