If i asked my doctor not to tell my parents about my anorexia can he?

Question

I'm 16, so not legally an adult. if i told my doctor about my anorexia and asked him to not tell my parents would he legally not be able to tell them or would he legally have to tell them?

i posted this earlier but only got 2 answers that were semi helpful

Answer 1

If a doctor feels you are doing anything at all harmful to yourself or to someone else, he is required by law to tell your parents, yes, but also a psychiatrist to have you evaluated to see if you may also have an underlying reason you are anorexic. If he didn't he would be shirking his responsibility and could get into major trouble. This goes also for adults who are harming themselves.

Answer 2

Because anorexia is a problem that can vastly damage your heath, your doctor legally must tell your parents.  

Answer 3

It is up to your doctor and your current condition.

If you are talking about Anorexia Nervosa, the treatment requires involvement of the whole family if you want to get better.

Legally, you can't stop your doctor from sharing your clinical information from your parents especially if the doctor feels that you are harming yourself by starving. Also, if your parents are responsible for doctor's fee, I am sure they would like to know what is going on with you.

If you are medically quite stable, your doctor may choose not to share this information with your parents now to gain your trust and wait till you are ready to break this news to your family, may be yourself.  

Answer 4

No offence...But, you should tell your parents, if they haven't already noticed. Work on getting healthy and create a good supportive group of people.

Answer 5

he can unless you signed the hip pa paper anorexia kills hope you get better

Answer 6

He legally would have to tell them.  Since you are still considered a child and can't make any medical choices for yourself he would need to tell.  Also, it might be the only way for you to get help.  I'm not going to lecture about the hundreds of things that can happen to your body but I will say that if your parents know, they can help you fight through it.  It would be better if you told them yourself instead of the doctor because it shows you care what they think and that you came to them first.

Answer 7

Well you're 16 so i think he should tell them

Answer 8

1. If you want to get any help at all your parents should know

2. Depends on the doctor, they might be legally obligated to do something, but does everyone follow the law...I think not.

3. Do you find this attractive? If not get some help.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f285/M...

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z131/...

http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:GiX_...

Answer 9

They cannot discuss birth control, medication, etc., that treat symptoms or issues which are not life threatening.   But I think that since you are a minor, if you have a health issue that is life threatening or damaging to your overall health then yes, he can (and should) tell your parents.