Emergency contraception safeguarding — GPhC CRA MCQ

Correct answer: B — Provide treatment alongside a private safeguarding and confidentiality assessment

Provide treatment alongside a private safeguarding and confidentiality assessment: The marked age and power difference creates a safeguarding concern, but emergency contraception should not be withheld while risk is assessed and information shared only as necessary. Defer emergency contraception until a parent attends and provides consent: Parental attendance is not required for a competent young person and delay may reduce effectiveness. Guarantee complete secrecy before undertaking the clinical and safeguarding assessment: Serious safeguarding concerns can require proportionate disclosure despite the request. Contact the older partner and confirm his account before providing treatment: Contacting the potential source of harm may increase risk and breaches the young person’s privacy. Provide treatment after competence assessment and omit exploration of exploitation: Competence to consent does not remove the duty to assess exploitation or abuse.

Reference: CoSRH/FSRH guideline: emergency contraception: https://www.cosrh.org/Common/Uploaded%20files/documents/fsrh-guideline-emergency-contraception03dec2020-amendedjuly2023-11jul.pdf; NICE NG76: child abuse and neglect: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng76/chapter/Recommendations; GPhC standards for pharmacy professionals: https://assets.pharmacyregulation.org/files/standards_for_pharmacy_professionals_may_2017_0.pdf