This article reviews the laws of informed consent and confidentiality related to HIV testing and treatment in adolescents, who represent a large proportion of people living with HIV. There is no uniform policy on minors' rights to consent to HIV testing and treatment, and the process of obtaining consent may depend on several factors, including individual state laws related to HIV testing and to a minor's capacity to consent to general and sexual-health-related medical care. The article provides questions and issues for health care providers to consider when an adolescent patient presents for HIV testing or treatment.
The Center for HIV Law and Policy challenges barriers to the rights and health of people affected by HIV through legal advocacy, high-impact policy initiatives, and creation of cross-issue partnerships, networks, and resources. We support movement building that amplifies the power of individuals and communities to mobilize for change that is rooted in racial, gender, and economic justice.