Can parents or guardians of youth aged 12 to 18 inspect and copy the records?

Parents or guardians of youth aged 12 to 18 can indeed inspect and copy the records if the youth is informed and does not object. This practice aligns with the legal principles that recognize the autonomy and emerging rights of adolescents while still allowing for parental involvement in the healthcare process.

In situations where the youth is informed about the request for access to their records and expresses no objection, it promotes transparency between the youth and their parents or guardians. This approach is particularly important in mental health and substance use contexts, where understanding a young person's treatment and support needs can be vital for their overall recovery and well-being.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the balance between respecting a youth’s rights and allowing parental involvement, as they either completely deny access or impose unnecessary legal barriers that do not typically apply in straightforward situations involving informed consent.