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Fraser Guidelines — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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HardEthics & ProfessionalismFraser GuidelinesMFDS Part 1

A 15-year-old attends a dental appointment in England without a parent. During a private discussion, she asks how to access emergency contraception and says that she does not want her parents informed. Which statement most accurately distinguishes the relevant consent frameworks?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Fraser guidelines provide contraception-specific criteria for confidential advice or treatment in under-16s; Gillick competence applies more broadly to healthcare decisions.

Explanation lettering: E = shown as A · C = shown as B · D = shown as C · A = shown as D · B = shown as E

A is correct. Fraser guidelines arose from the Gillick case but provide specific criteria for deciding whether confidential contraceptive advice or treatment may be given to a person under 16 without parental involvement. Gillick competence is broader and assesses whether an under-16 has sufficient maturity and understanding to consent to a particular healthcare decision, including dental treatment. Therefore, Fraser guidelines are not the general test for dental procedures, excluding B. They are not a statutory test for 16- or 17-year-olds, excluding C. Meeting the Fraser criteria does not remove safeguarding duties; coercion, exploitation and other risks must still be assessed, excluding D. Parental involvement should be encouraged where appropriate, but parental consent is not invariably required, excluding E.

Reference: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, section 'Mental capacity—children and young people under 16 years'. Current webpage, accessed 26 August 2026. https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/our-services/childrens-services/childrens-mental-health-services/camhs