A 17-Year-Old Girl Comes to the Office for Evaluation of Worsening

question 46

Multiple Choice

A 17-year-old girl comes to the office for evaluation of worsening vaginal irritation and discharge.  She has had multiple sexual partners in the past few months.  The patient is adherent with oral contraceptives and inconsistently uses condoms.  She has no prior medical conditions and takes no other medications.  Urine pregnancy test is negative and urine gonorrhea test is positive.  The patient does not want her parents to find out she is having sex and asks if the physician will tell her parents about today's visit.  Which of the following is the most appropriate response to this patient?

• A)"Because gonorrhea is a reportable illness, I am obligated to report it to the health authorities and to your parents."
• B)"I don't need to inform your parents that you are sexually active, but I will need their consent to prescribe antibiotic treatment."
• C)"I recommend that you tell your parents about today's visit in case your symptoms become more serious."
• D)"I will not notify your parents because you can consent to testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections on your own."
• E)"You can consent to treatment of gonorrhea, but because you are a minor, I am obligated to notify your parents."

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Definitions:

Attentional Processes

Mechanisms by which individuals selectively concentrate on certain information while ignoring other stimuli, important for cognitive functioning.

Modeling

The process of learning behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions through observing and imitating others, a concept emphasized in social learning theory.

Retention Processes

Cognitive mechanisms that allow information or experiences to be stored in memory and retrieved for later use.

Imaginal System

A psychological concept referring to the capacity of the mind to imagine, visualize, or create mental images.