§ Alistair BurtTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the advice given by general practitioners to pregnant under-16s; and if he will make a statement. [72239]
§ Ms BlearsThe Government's teenage pregnancy strategy recognises the importance of helping young people resist pressure to have early sex while seeking to ensure that those who are sexually active have easy access to high quality advice on contraception, sexual health and pregnancy. General practitioners (GPs) have a key role to play in providing this advice.
Best Practice Guidance on the Provision of Effective Contraception and Advice Services was issued in 2000, setting out the criteria against which services should be commissioned and provided. All GPs are expected to 493W work to the principles of the guidance. These are that services should encourage early uptake of pregnancy testing, provide non judgmental advice, referral to antenatal care when appropriate or, where abortion is the agreed option, quick referral to National Health Service abortion services.
GPs who hold a conscientious objection to abortion should make their views known to the patient and enable them to see another doctor without delay, if that is their wish. However, even a GP who conscentiously objects should still give advice to patients and perform the preparatory steps to arrange an abortion, where the request meets the legal requirements.
The legal framework for young people under 16 to consent to treatment, including abortion, was set out in the House of Lords ruling in 1985 in the case of Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority and the Department of Health and Social Security.
A young person under 16 can consent treatment without parental involvement providing the health professional is satisfied that they are competent to understand fully the implications of any treatment and to make a choice of the treatment proposed. The health professional must establish that a number of different criteria are met, including that the young person cannot be persuaded to tell their parents, or to allow the doctor to do so; they are very likely to begin or continue having intercourse with or without contraceptive treatment: and that the young person's best interests require the health professional to give contraceptive advice, treatment or both without parental consent.