What's Right for Me: Know Your Rights

By law, California teens have the right to seek confidential medical care for their reproductive health. This means that they can see a doctor or go to a medical clinic just for information and to ask questions or for medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, birth control, pregnancy or abortion and in California, no one else needs to know. These services are free or low cost for youth.

Although states generally require a parent’s permission before routine medical treatment, many states have laws that guarantee confidential health services for intimate matters such as sexually transmitted diseases, drug or alcohol abuse, contraception, prenatal care, and AIDS testing.