What are the physician-patient confidentiality laws in Florida?
Can a minor over the age of 13 be prescribed anti-depressants by her regular doctor without the consent and/or knowledge?
I definitely typed that wrong… Can a minor over the age of 13 living in Florida be prescribed antidepressants by her physician without the consent and/or knowledge of her parents?
Thank you!
EDIT: Ok, that makes more sense (sorry for the delay, I forgot to check back)
I was unable to locate anything that would indicate that a minor can consent to psychiatric medication without the parent. Florida law allows for a few set circumstances that the minor child can consent and received treatment without parental consent, which is outlined in this link:
http://www.jacobsandgoodman.com/CM/Articles/Articles33.asp
I know that in California, a minor 14 and over can invoke confidentiality from their parents for any medical treatment, but not for 13 and under.
Truth to be told it would be quite difficult to be fill the prescription as a 13 year old without billing to the parent’s insurance plan or paying a large sum in cash. Further more, anti-depressants are pretty heavy stuff and benefit from observation by family members for side-effects, as the patient can be unaware.
One last bit of commentary, if I may: I REALLY hate it when regular doctors prescribe psychiatric meds. They are legally allowed to, but in truth they are NOT qualified. Psychiatrists spend more than a decade in school studying these matters and the prescription of these meds requires a proper work-up.
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