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Health – frequently asked questions
Can I refuse medical treatment?
Can I get contraception without my parents’ permission?
Who can advise me about my options if I’m pregnant?
What are my responsibilities if I get a girl pregnant?
Are there age limits for getting an abortion?
How old do I have to be to get a tattoo or piercing?
Can I use a solarium if I'm under 18?
Can I refuse medical treatment?
Except for immediate, life-threatening emergencies, a doctor must get your consent (agreement) for any medical treatment. If you are under 18, how old you have to be to consent to or refuse treatment is not always clear, even if you already have a child of your own.
These are the general principles:
- minor medical treatment (like treatment for colds or acne) – if you are mature enough to understand what the treatment is about, you have the right to consent or refuse
- more-complicated treatment (like abortion and contraceptive advice) – you may still have the right to consent to, or refuse, treatment without your parents’ or guardian’s consent. The doctor has to be satisfied that you understand the treatment and its consequences. The doctor must also believe that the procedure is in your best interests
- some ‘non-therapeutic’ treatments (not involving illness; like sterilisation or gender-changing operations) – these may not be legal without court approval, even if you and your parents or guardian consent
- complex treatment (like treatment of eating disorders or refusal of a blood transfusion on religious grounds) – you may not have the right to refuse such treatment, even if you fully understand the treatment and its consequences.
Some medical procedures done for cultural reasons, like clitoridectomy (female circumcision), are illegal and carry heavy penalties.
Your parents or guardian can only consent to or refuse medical treatment on your behalf if you are not mature enough to make your own decisions. In this case, the decision must be made in your best interests.
If you, your parents or guardian and your doctor disagree about treatment, a court will need to decide what will happen. The court must consider what is in your best interests. You can get legal help.
See the Office of the Public Advocate website for information about medical consent.
Related websites
Office of the Public Advocate – medical consent (new window)
Can I get contraception without my parents’ permission?
If you are under 18 you may be able to get contraception, like the pill, from a doctor. This depends on whether the doctor thinks you are mature enough to understand what you are doing and to use the contraceptive properly. Make sure you know your doctor’s policy about privacy.
There is no age limit on who can buy condoms. They are sold at most chemists and supermarkets.
Family Planning Victoria’s (FPV) website has information about sex, sexuality and FPV’s services for young people.
Related websites
Family Planning Victoria – Youth Centre (new window)
Who can advise me about my options if I’m pregnant?
If you are pregnant it is important to know you have options. There are people you can talk to. A counsellor, nurse or doctor can help you think through your choices.
These can include:
- going ahead with the pregnancy and keeping the baby
- going ahead with the pregnancy and adopting out the baby
- having an abortion.
Anyone you talk to about your pregnancy shouldn’t judge your situation. Your decisions should be private. If you are not happy with the person you talk to you can get a second opinion or make a complaint.
There is no minimum age for keeping your baby. What matters is your ability to support yourself and the baby, and to make sure the baby is safe.
Family Planning Victoria’s (FPV) website has information about FPV’s services for young people, including pregnancy counselling.
Related websites
Family Planning Victoria – Youth Centre (new window)
Related publications
Child support and parentage testing
What are my responsibilities if I get a girl pregnant?
Regardless of your age, you are legally responsible for financially supporting the child. If you can’t do this because you are still at school and have no income, you may have to pay later when you can afford to.
If you are proved to be the father, you have to make child support payments until the child is 18.
Related publications
Child support and parentage testing
Are there age limits for getting an abortion?
There is no age limit on getting an abortion. You may be able to get an abortion without your parents’ or guardian’s consent if the doctor thinks that you are mature enough to understand what you are doing.
If you are considering having an abortion, get advice from a doctor early in your pregnancy. It is legal to have an abortion if you are not more than 24 weeks pregnant.
After 24 weeks, an abortion may be performed if two doctors agree that the abortion is appropriate, all circumstances considered. The doctors must consider your medical, physical, psychological and social circumstances.
Family Planning Victoria’s (FPV) website has information about FPV’s services for young people, including pregnancy counselling.
Related websites
Family Planning Victoria – Youth Centre (new window)
How old do I have to be to get a tattoo or piercing?
The law says you can’t be tattooed before you are 18, unless it is for medical purposes and performed by a doctor.
It is also illegal for anyone to perform scarification (scarring), tongue splitting, branding or beading on anyone under 18.
If you are under 16, it is against the law for someone to give you a body piercing unless you have a letter of consent from your parent or guardian. If you are over 10 you also have to give your consent in writing.
Body piercers are not allowed to make intimate body piercings on anyone who is under 18. This means that you must be 18 before you can have your genitals, anal area or nipples pierced.
Can I use a solarium if I'm under 18?
From 1 February 2008, there are new regulations in Victoria about young people using 'sun-tanning units' (ultra-violet sun-tan equipment, such as sunbeds) in solariums or other places, like gyms and beauty salons.
Under the regulations:
- no one under 16 can use a sun-tanning unit
- 16- and 17-year-olds can only use a sun-tanning unit with parental consent.
In addition, skin-type assessments are now mandatory. People with fair skin that burns not tans must be refused access.
Solarium operators who do not obey the regulations, including proper supervision, can be fined large amounts.