Caring For Kids And Their Parents

Teen Confidentiality

Scenario Script

Scene 1

Carla, a young teen, and her mother, Mrs. Brown, are with a doctor in an examination room.

Doctor: Okay, Carla, that should do it for today. Good luck with your sports. I hope you make the basketball team. Do you have any questions for me?

Carla: Uh… [looks back and forth between her mother and the doctor and seems uncomfortable]

Doctor: Yes?

Carla: Uhm… [looking uncomfortable]

Mrs. Brown: Go ahead, honey. Ask the doctor.

Carla: Could we [gesturing to the doctor] talk alone?

Mrs. Brown: Alone? What could you want to say to the doctor that you couldn’t say in front of me?

Carla looks pleadingly at the doctor.

Doctor: Well, Mrs. Brown, maybe it would be ok if we talked for a few minutes in private…

Mrs. Brown: [outraged] No, it really wouldn’t be ok. Young lady, [glowering at Carla] if you have anything to say to this doctor you say it in front of me or you don’t say it at all!

The doctor looks at Carla and shrugs his shoulders in resignation.

Carla: Well, I was just wondering… if… someone could catch… a disease… you know if someone were to touch them… y’know, down there… just with their hands.

Mrs. Brown: [gasping in disbelief] What… what kind of a question is that? Why would you even ask something like that? That’s disgusting! I certainly hope that you’re not… oh my gosh… [shaking her head]

Carla is now looking at the doctor with a betrayed look on her face. Scene fades out.

Scene 2

Carla, a young teen, and her mother, Mrs. Brown, are with a doctor in an examination room.

Doctor: Hello, Carla, I am Doctor Patel. [turns to older woman] And are you Carla’s mother?

Mrs. Brown: Yes, I’m Rita Brown.

Doctor: [shakes hands with Mrs. Brown] Good to meet you Mrs. Brown. So good to meet you both. [turning back to Carla] So, what brings you in to see us today?

Carla: I’ve had this cough for about two weeks and so I came in to get something for it.

Mrs. Brown: We also have some forms that need to be filled out and signed so that Carla can go out for her school basketball team.

Doctor: We can certainly take care of that as well. Before I get started, let me tell you how I generally run my clinic visits. We’ll start off with your cough, and I’ll ask you about that and some other things. I want to hear directly from you, Carla, but Mrs. Brown, if you have anything to add or think Carla may be mistaken on anything, just feel free to chime in. Okay?

Carla and her mother both nod in agreement.

Doctor: Then we will get on to the physical examination. I’ll check your throat and your breathing and whatever else is required to complete your school form. But before I do that, I am going to ask you, Mrs. Brown, to step outside for a few minutes so that Carla and I can talk in privacy, ok?

Mrs. Brown: Is that really necessary? Carla and I have always been very close. We don’t have any secrets. [turning to Carla] Do we, honey?

Carla shrugs her shoulders and does not respond.

Doctor: Well, that may be so, but Carla is getting to be a fine young lady. She has the right to a little privacy, and we must respect that.

Mrs. Brown: But what could she want to talk to you about that I couldn’t hear?

Doctor: Mrs. Brown, that’s really for her to decide.

Mrs. Brown: Well, I don’t know. We’ve never done it this way before with Dr. Wilson…

Doctor: Carla was much younger when you were seeing Dr. Wilson. She’s growing up. We do this for all our patients when they get to be Carla’s age.

Mrs. Brown: [turning to Carla] Honey, is that what you want?

Carla: Well… maybe… yeah, I… I guess so…

Mrs. Brown: So, you’re not my little girl anymore?

Carla: Sure I am. But maybe I’m just not so little anymore.

Mrs. Brown: Okay, let’s get started…

Doctor: Ok. Just give Carla and me a couple minutes Mrs. Brown.

Mrs. Brown: See you in a few minutes.

Mrs. Brown exits the room. Scene fades out.

Scene 3

Carla, a young teen, is alone with a doctor in an examination room.

Doctor: Okay, Carla, anything on your mind that you want to talk to me about? Any questions? And before we go any further, please understand that what we talk about is confidential between us, and your mother does not need to know any of it unless you decide to tell her. Okay?

Carla: Well, I do have a question but I feel kind of funny asking it…

Doctor: [pulling over a chair and sitting down] There aren’t too many questions I haven’t heard before. Try me.

Carla: Well… I was just wondering if someone could catch a disease… if someone just touched them… y’know, down there… just with their hands.

Doctor: [nodding head thoughtfully] Okay, the first thing I want to do is acknowledge you for asking a question like that. I know it can be difficult for people your age to talk to people my age about things like that. And I feel encouraged that you feel safe to talk to me about that. And I hope you will always understand that when we talk like this in confidence, nobody needs to know, including your mother, ok?

Carla: [looking a little sheepish but also relieved, smiles at the doctor] Okay…

Doctor: So as far as your question, yes, there are some diseases that could be passed on that way but why don’t we start with you telling me what you understand about sexually transmitted diseases. And it would also be helpful to know what kinds of sexual activities you have had and if you have any particular symptoms that you think could be a sign of some kind of infection. So, [pulling chair a bit closer] you start and I’ll listen.

Carla: Where should I start?

Doctor: How about at the beginning? How long ago did you have your first sexual contact?

Carla: Well, it was like a couple of months ago. I was at a party with some friends…

Scene fades out.

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