Acute Safeguarding Essentials in Modern-day Paediatrics: Sexual Relationships, Consent and Confidentiality

Helen Thomas; Daniel Cromb; Hannah Jacob; Anastasia Alcock

doi:10.1136/archdischild-2023-326654

Acute Safeguarding Essentials in Modern-day Paediatrics: Sexual Relationships, Consent and Confidentiality

Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed. 2024 Apr 9:edpract-2023-326654. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326654. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Helen Thomas¹, Daniel Cromb², Hannah Jacob³, Anastasia Alcock⁴

Affiliations

¹ Paediatric Emergency Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK helen.thomas1@nhs.net.
² Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
³ Department of Paediatrics, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
⁴ Paediatric Emergency Department, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK.

PMID: 38594063
DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-326654

Abstract

As the third case in the acute safeguarding essentials in modern-day paediatrics series, this article focuses on sexual relationships, consent and confidentiality. Using the scenario of a 15-year-old girl presenting to the emergency department with a positive pregnancy test, it begins with a guide to taking a psychosocial history in young people followed by discussion about some of the legality surrounding sexual relationships in adolescents, issues around consent and considerations for confidentiality in this age group.

Keywords: Adolescent Health; Child Health Services; Child Protective Services; Child Welfare; Ethics.