Among legal issues related to AIDS and adolescents are whether an adolescent can consent to an HIV antibody test without parental permission, the scope of the confidentiality protection of an institutionalized adolescent known to be infected with HIV, and the liability if disclosure of an adolescent's antibody status results in discrimination. Other issues are whether educational or social services programs can legally refuse to serve infected youths and who is liable if an infected adolescent engages in sexual activity or shares needles while in a group placement under public agency supervision. Similarly, ethical issues arise as service providers try to balance what often appear to be conflicting ethical duties to the infected youth, to the high-risk youth, to other adolescents under their care, to themselves, and to the general public. 37 reference notes.