A
male
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I'm 18 and live in Canada (Alberta, if it makes a difference). Making the appointment and getting to the clinic isn't a problem; the only thing I'm not sure of is if my parents will receive some type of notification in the mail, like an insurance statement or an annual list of doctor's visits. Help? Reply to this Question
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Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
male
reader, daletom  +, writes (10 August 2010):
The direct approach is probably best. Contact the doctor's office manager, or clinic director, and ask them! They know both the laws and policies they operate under. Be prepared to wade through a multi-page document about "Patients' Rights" or "Medical Confidentiality", written in legalese. If the staff simply pushes such a thing on you, and can't answer the questions you will have after trying to understand it, chances are they themselves don't REALLY know their own policies, and I wouldn't trust their answers regardless of what they say.
This is one of those things that may be the subject of different administrivial rules depending on where you live, your actual age, and exactly what medical condition is involved. (For example, at one extreme - if you are carrying certain highly contagious diseases that pose a risk to the public in general, you may be identified to appropriate authorities. That's pretty unlikely, so don't worry about it.)
This I can with certainty: In the U.S., when I was "18 - 21", if I consulted a doctor or clinic and paid the charges myself, nobody else knew about it unless I chose to tell them.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (10 August 2010): I'm from Ontario Canada and here they do not send any notification at all. Dr's visits are confidential. Why are you worried anyways? You are 18 and legally an adult.
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A
female
reader, Moo's Mum  +, writes (10 August 2010):
 Hey doll I live in New Zealand and here that would not happen. I'm sure it will be the same for your country. Doctors vists are confidential so just request that they will not send anything to your house.
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