MED1011-PCL-Week7

Home > MED 1011 > PCL

Patient Summary
15 y/o female present with suspected pregnancy. Does not want to name the father and is undecided on whether to terminate or keep the baby.

Dx = **Teenage pregnancy**

__Social, Legal and Ethical Issues__
· Sex legal in Victoria from age 10 upwards as long as partner is within 2 years of age · Over 16 sex is legal with anyone as long as not in a supervisory position (e.g. teacher) · Over 18 sex is legal with anyone · Possibility of sexual abuse / consent · Decision of what to do with pregnancy – consider financial, educational, emotional issues, support from family/partner o Have baby and keep it (responsibility, const, education) o Have baby and put it up for adoption/foster care (difficult giving up child, have to go through birth, want to keep in contact?) o Abortion (guilt, depression, grief, religious or moral values, impact on future pregnancies) · Use of contraception · Risk factors for teen pregnancy o Low SES o Low educational achievement o Alcohol/substance abuse o Having teenage parents __Paternity testing__ o Use DNA fingerprinting (See Genetics Notes) o Need to test both mother and father’s DNA (finger prick blood sample) o Issues: confidentiality/privacy, child support, consent, criminal conviction, never 100% definitive