What Medical Rights Do Minors Have in California?

Under federal privacy rules and California law, parents generally have access to a child’s medical records. However, when California law allows minors to consent to certain health services on their own, information related to those services is generally kept confidential.

In these situations, health care providers may limit what parents or guardians can see in the medical record, patient portals or other communications to help protect the minor’s privacy.

Because confidential services may be documented in a medical record, health systems often limit the information parents can view, especially in teen patient portals, to help prevent accidental disclosure.

“While Scripps strongly believes in partnering with parents, we also are serious about ensuring that adolescents feel they are able to have private conversations with their physicians and other health care providers,” says Erik Hogen, MD, a pediatrician at Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo. “This is especially pertinent around certain sensitive services or types of care, such as substance abuse counseling, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and family planning, including birth control.”

Parents and guardians can sign up for proxy access through the MyScripps patient portal.

If you already have proxy access to your child’s account, your access will automatically change from full proxy access to teen proxy access when your child turns 12.

Teen proxy access allows parents to continue helping manage care while protecting confidential services that minors may legally consent to receive.

With teen proxy access, parents and guardians may still be able to:

• Schedule appointments (including video visits)

• Send messages to the health care team

• Request or refill most prescriptions 

Some medications or services considered sensitive may not appear in the proxy view.

To protect confidential services allowed under California law, parents or guardians may not be able to see certain information in their teen’s medical account or patient portal account, including:

• Some test results

• Certain appointment details

• Information related to reproductive health

• Mental health visits that a teen consented on their own

• Substance use counseling or treatment

These restrictions help keep care private when minors can legally get services on their own.

Patients age 12 and older can sign up for their own MyScripps account.

During a clinic visit, your teen may receive an activation code that allows them to create a username and password online. They can then securely log in through the MyScripps website or mobile app.

After enrolling, teen patients, ages 12 to 17, can use the portal in many of the same ways adult patients do. They may be able to:

• Join video visits with their doctor

• Send secure messages to their care team

• View certain test results

• Request prescription refills

• Review parts of their health record

Access may vary depending on the type of service received.

Yes. Teens need their own MyScripps account to join a video visit with their doctor. Parents or guardians can still schedule appointments for their teen through proxy access.

If you are listed as the guarantor for a visit, you may be able to view billing details. You can find them in your MyScripps account under Billing Summary.

However, billing details may not appear for visits involving confidential services that minors can legally consent to under California law. 

In some cases, billing information may also be limited when:

• The teen is listed as the guarantor

• The visit was self-pay

• The visit involved confidential services, such as reproductive health, STI treatment, mental health counseling or substance-use services.

Your insurer may still send communications, such as explanation of benefits (EOBs). However, you may be able to request confidential communications from your health plan to limit how and where this information is shared.

California law allows minors 12 and older to consent to certain types of care without parental permission. When minors consent to these services, providers generally keep that information confidential. However, there may be exceptions, such as when a teen agrees to share the information or when there are legal or safety concerns.

Examples may include:

• Testing, prevention and treatment for sexually transmitted infections

• Birth control and pregnancy-related care

• Counseling or treatment for drug or alcohol problems

• Outpatient mental health counseling, if the provider determines the minor is mature enough to participate

• Care related to sexual or physical abuse

Because these services may be confidential, they may be limited in medical records shared with parents or may not appear in a parent’s portal view.

During routine checkups, health care providers talk with teens about key aspects of their health and development, such as:

• Nutrition and physical activity

• Emotional health and stress

• School, relationships and social pressures

• Safety, including driving and risk behaviors

• Substance abuse

• Sexual health

Providers may spend part of the visit speaking with teens privately to address sensitive concerns, while still encouraging open communication with parents or guardians.

Yes. Providers may ask parents or guardians to step out briefly during part of a teen’s visit.

This allows teens to speak openly about their health. Services that minors can legally consent to under California law must remain confidential unless the teen chooses to share the information or the provider determines that someone may be at risk.

In cases where a teen has limited decision-making ability, parents or guardians may request Diminished Capacity proxy access. 

With a doctor’s note or a confirmed diagnosis, full proxy access may be granted until the teen turns 18.

Adolescence is a time of growing independence and responsibility. Health care providers encourage parents and guardians to remain involved in their teen’s well-being by:

• Staying engaged in conversations about health

• Helping teens prepare for medical visits

• Encouraging teens to ask questions and understand their care

• Providing guidance and support during important developmental changes

Partnering with teens and health care providers helps young people get safe, private and supportive care. This support matters as they move toward adulthood.