The health of adolescent girls: does the law support it?

The law provides protection and creates many policy options that could and do support the health of adolescent girls. Current legal protection pertains to consent for care, confidentiality of information, and insurance coverage; gaps in protection and policy options also exist. The extent to which the protection and options will remain in place and the gaps will be filled is uncertain. Additional issues of current interest and debate include financing treatment for increasingly pressing health concerns, such as eating disorders, obesity, and depression; new challenges concerning statutory rape reporting and enforcement of the laws related to it; and girls' access to emergency contraception.