Teens
What Teen Confidentiality Means at the Pediatrician
Why your teenager gets one-on-one time with the doctor, what stays private, and when parents are always told. From our adolescent medicine team on the Upper East Side.
By the Uptown Pediatrics team · · 4 min read
Around the early teen years, you may notice your child's doctor asks you to step out for part of the visit. That's intentional, and it's one of the most important things we do for adolescents.
Why one-on-one time matters
Teenagers are more likely to be honest about sleep, mood, stress, relationships, and risky behavior when a parent isn't in the room. That honesty lets us catch problems early, and it helps teens learn to manage their own health before they head to college.
What stays private?
We use a teen confidentiality agreement, which we encourage families to read together before the visit. In general, conversations between a teen and their doctor stay private, with important exceptions: if we're worried about your child's safety or someone else's, we will always involve parents.
Download the teen confidentiality agreement.
How parents can help
- Talk with your teen about the agreement ahead of time.
- Share your concerns with the doctor before you step out.
- Encourage your teen to write down questions.
- Trust the process. The goal is a healthy, informed young adult who keeps coming back.
Care from an adolescent medicine specialist
Dr. Ivanya Landon Alpert completed an adolescent medicine fellowship at Mount Sinai and has presented nationally on adolescent health. Learn more about our adolescent medicine care.
