Case Study: Shelly, a 16-year old girl, during an appointment with Dr. Susan Anderson, asked for a prescription for birth control pills.Dr. Anderson has been the only physician that has seen Shelly as a patient.Dr. Anderson is also a family friend.

The law in Shelly's state permits minors to obtain contraceptives WITHOUT parental consent. There are also patient privacy laws enacted at the Federal and State level to protect Shelly's privacy.

Dr. Anderson gave Shelly a prescription for birth control at her appointment, and explained how to take the prescription.Later in the day, having second thoughts, Dr. Anderson phoned Shelly's mother to tell her about the prescription.

Discussion Question:

• What if any, are both ETHICAL & LEGAL implications in this situation?
• Provide rationale for your responses.
• Note: Your response is not to be based on your opinion or moral viewpoint. It is to be based on professional ethics and the law.