Teenage pregnancy support
A 16 year old female was recently confirmed with an unwanted pregnancy and subsequently, with the help and advice of her GP she arranged to have an abortion at the nearest suitable hospital located 2 hours drive from her home town. Due to some public perception of teenage pregnancy the girl was reluctant to share her pregnancy details with the father of the child, family or any of her friends. The GP expressed concern regarding the lack of support the girl wished to receive however she insisted this was what she wanted.
On the trip down to the hospital she was involved in a high speed motor car accident. The girl suffered mild to moderate injuries after being encased within the vehicle for a period of time. Once extricated, the girl revealed to the paramedic that she was 8 weeks pregnant but asked for privacy regarding the information stating she did not want her parents to find out as they would not understand. Additionally, she also asked for the paramedic to withhold this information from the police on scene. The paramedic feels she requires support from her parents at this time and is concerned about her mental status. Additionally, he is concerned that her anxiety could be increased further as she is to be transported to an emergency department, meaning she would miss her appointment at the abortion clinic. At this moment the policeman on scene asks the paramedic for a quiet word. He asks to have the girl’s details so he can contact her parents, informing them of the accident.
It is proposed that the paramedic should inform the policeman of the situation so the parents can be given the opportunity to support their daughter and the pregnancy