277. Why are 14-year-olds allowed to deny parents the right to see their medical history on My Gov?

Question Number: 319
PDR Number: SQ22-000696
Date Submitted: 21/11/2022
Department or Body: Department of Health

‘Medical history’ information accessible through myGov includes both information available in an individual’s My Health Record and information held by other services such as Medicare, the National Cancer Screening Register and the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This answer relates only to the My Health Record system. Questions about controls and access to the other services should be referred to the responsible government department or agency. The My Health Record system reflects longstanding Medicare policy that, when a child turns 14, their parents/guardians can no longer access the child’s Medicare information without the child’s explicit consent. As part of the 2018 transition of the My Health Record system to opt-out, this policy was applied beyond Medicare information to all information in a child’s My Health Record. This policy has been made explicit in the My Health Records Act 2012 (section 6 refers). This was done in response to the Senate inquiry into the system (report available at: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/MyHealt hRecordsystem/Final_Report) and community concerns regarding the privacy of minors. This means that when a child turns 14 their parents/guardians can no longer access the child’s My Health Record without the child’s explicit consent. Special arrangements are in place for children without capacity to make decisions. It is important to note the My Health Record provides a summary of key health information. It is not a complete medical record.