A 19 year old university student attends her GP requesting an abortion at 9 weeks gestation. She does not wish her parents to know and appears calm an...

Question

A 19 year old university student attends her GP requesting an abortion at 9 weeks gestation. She does not wish her parents to know and appears calm and articulate. She understands the nature of the procedure and its risks and benefits. There are no safeguarding concerns. What is the most appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Assess her competence and, if satisfied, arrange referral for abortion without informing her parents

Answer

Refuse to proceed until her parents provide written consent

Answer

Inform her parents because she is under 21

Answer

Inform social services as all under 25s require safeguarding assessment

Answer

Insist that she waits until 12 weeks gestation before referral

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Consent and confidentiality in abortion care