A fourteen year old patient tells to you that they are sexually active and that their parents don't know. As a doctor, what things would have to be considered here?

When answering any ethical question it is good to structure your question around the four pillars of ethics - beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice. You should first aknowledge the legalities of the situation - the patient is under the age of consent, which is 16, but you still have to respect doctor-patient confidentiality. While you cannot share this information it is important to encourage the patient to tell their parents/guardians about it themselves. You must also consider that being sexually active might have a negative effect on the patients mental and phyisical wellbeing and that she could be abused or taken advantage of. A doctor should provide advice about contaception and sexual activity - and he may offer contraception if he believes it is in the best interest of the patient. On the flip side, if he believes that abuse is taking place - protocol says that child protection should be contacted and confidentiality breached.