The answer

The short answer to Joss’s query is that she can go on hormonal contraception and does not need her parents’ permission to do so. Young people are entitled to the same level of care as adults, and can provide consent to any medical treatment, including those relating to contraception and sexual health, if they are deemed ‘competent’. This term refers to their mental and emotional capacity to fully understand the nature and potential consequences of the treatment in question.

While young people are encouraged to speak to their parents – or person who has legal parental responsibility for them – about such matters, it is not legally necessary for them to obtain their consent. These principles, however, do not apply to children aged under 13 years, as the law states that people of this age cannot consent to sexual activity.