Doctors definitely shouldn't be able to tell their patients' parents if they have STDs. Way too many people would never get tested if they had to be afraid of what their families would think.

i would definitly would want my parents or guardian to know bc they care about you and sooner or later they would find out so to save urself the trouble you should go ahead and tell them

I don't think they should tell parents. Maybe if the child is very young like 12 but other than that, not everyone has the greatest parents. Is it really fair to the kid who wants help but won't get it b/c the parents would be told which isn't always the best thing?
-Danielle

I do think the kid should tell their parents. I mean, don't get me wrong, I would be scared to tell them but they're you're parents and I'm sure they'd only want to help and they have the right to know. It's for your own good as well.

i think that if someone's kid has STD they should know because it will be harder for the kid to deal the the STD without someone to talk to aboutit or maybe even help them.

i wouldnt tell my parents because even though having a std is a big thing , they would take it over board and just make u feel messed up , and besides it is ur business

I think that she should have her own choice. Nobody should be able to sway her once she decides, unless that person has a reason. A good reason. Her medical history should be her own responsibility, open to only the people that she sees fit. So if her parents aren't those people, she can keep it from them. I also think that she should have a reason to keep it from them, and not just that she doesn't think they would understand. If she thinks they may betray her trust, that's a good reason. But if she thinks they may just not understand, she needs to find out for sure. Thanks for hearing me out.

Parents over react over dumb things, even though haveing an STD is a big deal perents that can't except things like that shouldn't know.

Personally i would be afraid to tell my parents i've had sex and/or got an std. Maybe it's the right thing, but it's also scary.

i think that if the girl made the choice to have sex...then she should be able to make the choice whether or not her parents should know. She should have the decision if she should let them know or keep it between her and her doctor.

when I become a parent I would hope that my child would tell me if they had contracted an STD of any kind no mattter the seriousnesss. But I do undersatnd being a teenager myself how embarressing that might be and I do feal if I were to ever contract an STD my parents would think of me in a lesser way.. even though its wrong to do, and probably wrong on my part to assume.. but its fact that most people think that way about STD's.. so I firmly beleive in doctor/patient confidentiallity when it comes to adolescents getting checked and treated for STD's.. and more power to everyone who has the guts to go in and have it done.. its a very touchy topic and if a parent is to find out that there child has an STD or just that there child is sexually active it should be the responsibility of the child to inform them... not the doctor... its not there place neither should they feal they have to say something...

These teens are clearly already doing the right thing by going to the doctor and dealing with the problem. What if a teen was forced to tell their parents and it made a bigger issue (for example gettin kicked out or beat up). I think the doctors should strongly recommend to tell their parents but it should be the teen's choice.

I still live in my parents house and I am 16 years old therefore in some ways I am still my parents responsibility. I am not an adult. If I were to have a sexually transmitted disease I would want my parents to know not only because of moral support, but because this would be a major change in my life. They're my parents for goodness sake!!!!!! Sure, I'd be humiliated but it would be a price to pay for doing the act. Unless of course someone took advantage of me (heaven forbid) then, I would want their support

i think we should tell our parents only if we want to. i mean, how many of ur parents tell u if they hav an std? i dunno bout ur parents but my parents decided they werent gonna talk about that kind of stuff in front of me, so i dont see y i have to open up to them. i think it should b ur choice wether to tell them or not. i think we are mature enough to get help if we need it. and the doctor would know anyway and he/she could help the std victim with antibiotics and other possible treatments. this differs with the kind of parents you have, but if i told my parents somthing like that, they would just yell at me and that wouldnt really help.

I think the doctors should be able to tell so the parents can handle the situation.if they didnt tell the sickness might worsen or might be spread.they should tell.

i definitaly think if ur under 18 the parents should have the rite 2 no

Yea, I think that ur parents need ta know if you have an STD, I mean, dont they have the right to be informed on wether or not you might Die??

Sorry.Alright. This is speaking from someone wose had a tad of experience with this. I was diagonsed with a STD a few months ago. I did not tell my mom about it at all, that would have just created tension in our housse about the stupid things I had done in the past. I went to the doctor,got the medicine for my boyfriend and I, and it was over and done with in 2 weeks. That simple. Honestly, it's really not that big of a deal... things happen. I'm 17 years old, and I think I handled the situation well, by not freaking out and going into denial about it, then getting help.

look its the persons decsion to tell her parents, i mean if she can have the dicesion to have sex in the frist place then she should be able to tell her parents. If she doset want to then why force her its her right to chuse. Its all so not the doctors place to tell the parents. I'm not saying she should tell her parents but it really is a choce she needs to make on her own. Parents are all driffent and will all act driffently when she tells them. leave it up to her.

Parents do have the right to know of any problems their child (under 18 that is) is having. but just because they have that right, doesnt mean that they HAVE to know. once you are 21, you have the right (or privelege) to buy and drink alcohol, but that doesnt mean you have to go out and buy a 6-pack. the person with the STD should know what to do. if they feel their parents need to know- i would trust that they would step up to the plate and take action on that.