ND: No Prenatal Care for Teens w/out Parental Permission

[smartestnumber5]

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/03/24/news/state/130832.txt

ND house rejects private medical care for pregnant teens
By DALE WETZEL
Associated Press Writer

Pregnant girls should get adult permission before they get medical checkups for their unborn babies, the state House decided as representatives defeated a proposal to allow teenagers to seek confidential prenatal care.

North Dakota law now requires a doctor to have permission from a parent or guardian to treat pregnant girls who are younger than 18.

They thought it was a good idea to give pregnant teen girls an incentive NOT to get prenatal care? I don't see how anyone on any side of the political spectrum could think that would be a good thing. What is wrong with these legislators?

(Although I do have to say, I think the logic of parental permission for prenatal care and all other pregnancy related medical care does follow from the logic of parental consent laws for abortion. I've never understood why one needs parental permission to have an abortion but not to continue a pregnancy, when the latter is known to be more dangerous.)

 

[iloveboardwalk]

As long as minors remain the legal and financial responsibility of parents, then parents should not be kept out of the loop in regards to medical care. I know it's not very politically correct of me. Where did anyone ever come up with the idea that Doctors should be allowed to treat minor children without a parent's consent except in the case of emergencies?

 

[rhiannonwales]

I guess youll be seeing a lot more babies in toilets in ND

 

[ducklite]

That just seems so backwards. The person it's got the most potential to hurt is the unborn child.

Girl gets pregnant, hides pregnancy, but wants to seek prenatal care to have healthy baby. Scratch prenatal care, delivers baby with medical issues. Abandons baby in front of a convenience store.

Girl gets pregnant, hides pregnancy, but wants to seek prenatal care to have healthy baby. Gets prenatal care, delivers healthy baby and surrenders it at a "safe haven" after learning about the program through a poster on the wall during a prenatal visit.

Morally, number two is the better choice.

Number one also has the potential to put a huge financial burden on the taxpayer.

Anne

 

[smartestnumber5]

As long as minors remain the legal and financial responsibility of parents, then parents should not be kept out of the loop in regards to medical care. I know it's not very politically correct of me. Where did anyone ever come up with the idea that Doctors should be allowed to treat minor children without a parent's consent except in the case of emergencies?

I have certainly gone to doctors and dentists when I was under 18 and did not have a parent there giving their consent for me to be seen. I didn't think there was any general requirement that a 17 year old needs parental consent for a doctor to check her sore throat and tell her to take tylenol. Maybe there is and it just isn't very strictly followed?

I do know that most states do give explicit authority to minors to make their own medical decisions without parental consent in certain cases--mostly having to do with STDs, pregnancy, sexual assault or drug/alcohol abuse. I think they came up with that idea when they realized that many teens would rather get pregnant, give their baby no prental care at all, have an illegal abortion, give birth in secret and throw the baby in a dumpster, let an STD fester and spread it to others, let their rapist go free, become an alcoholic etc than tell their parents that they are having sex, were raped, are using alcohol/drugs. A sad fact about our world, but a fact nonetheless. When safeguarding the rights of parents comes at the expense of the life and health of teens and babies, I have no problem throwing those rights out the window. (Just like if a family chooses not to give their perfectly healthy child a simple medical procedure like a blood transfusion, their right to make decisions about their child's health are overriden by the fact that without the transfusion the child will die.)

 

[iloveboardwalk]

I have certainly gone to doctors and dentists when I was under 18 and did not have a parent there giving their consent for me to be seen. I didn't think there was any general requirement that a 17 year old needs parental consent for a doctor to check her sore throat and tell her to take tylenol. Maybe there is and it just isn't very strictly followed?

I do know that most states do give explicit authority to minors to make their own medical decisions without parental consent in certain cases--mostly having to do with STDs, pregnancy, sexual assault or drug/alcohol abuse. I think they came up with that idea when they realized that many teens would rather get pregnant, give their baby no prental care at all, have an illegal abortion, give birth in secret and throw the baby in a dumpster, let an STD fester and spread it to others, let their rapist go free, become an alcoholic etc than tell their parents that they are having sex, were raped, are using alcohol/drugs. A sad fact about our world, but a fact nonetheless. When safeguarding the rights of parents comes at the expense of the life and health of teens and babies, I have no problem throwing those rights out the window. (Just like if a family chooses not to give their perfectly healthy child a simple medical procedure like a blood transfusion, their right to make decisions about their child's health are overriden by the fact that without the transfusion the child will die.)

I can understand the situation, although I think the "secret suffering teen" scenario is not as common as is often stated. I do not want my child to have medical care without my explicit knowledge, call me crazy, but that's how I feel. If the same people had their car keyed or something by the same teen, they sure as heck would be calling that parent for financial compensation.

 

[jenr812]

Wow. Anyone know what ND's laws are regarding teens obtaining birth control/condoms/etc?

 

[Wishing on a star]

As long as minors remain the legal and financial responsibility of parents, then parents should not be kept out of the loop in regards to medical care. I know it's not very politically correct of me. Where did anyone ever come up with the idea that Doctors should be allowed to treat minor children without a parent's consent except in the case of emergencies?

I agree with this!

As long as a kid is under age, then the parent is responsible.

I am not big on political correctness.
I don't care if abortion and secret pregnancies are 'politically correct'.

I don't see any excuse for hacking away at parental rights.
I am not giving mine away.

 

[Acklander]

For whatever reason, there are some teens that are unable to tell their parents that they are pregnant. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, and feeling like I had no where to turn. If a teen knows that she can get health care without her parents knowing,that is the first step towards a resolution, and probably the teens first contact with an actual adult who can help her make a decision, or help her tell her parents. For all the pro-lifers out there, if you want to end abortion, you should make it easier for a girl to have a baby, not punish the girl for having sex.

 

[mickeyfan2]

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/03/24/news/state/130832.txt



They thought it was a good idea to give pregnant teen girls an incentive NOT to get prenatal care? I don't see how anyone on any side of the political spectrum could think that would be a good thing. What is wrong with these legislators?

(Although I do have to say, I think the logic of parental permission for prenatal care and all other pregnancy related medical care does follow from the logic of parental consent laws for abortion. I've never understood why one needs parental permission to have an abortion but not to continue a pregnancy, when the latter is known to be more dangerous.)

But wouldn't the cost of this care fall under the insured parents plan. How could you keep them out of the loop and then ask them to pay the bills and deal with the insurance company?

 

[iloveboardwalk]

For whatever reason, there are some teens that are unable to tell their parents that they are pregnant. I can't imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, and feeling like I had no where to turn. If a teen knows that she can get health care without her parents knowing,that is the first step towards a resolution, and probably the teens first contact with an actual adult who can help her make a decision, or help her tell her parents. For all the pro-lifers out there, if you want to end abortion, you should make it easier for a girl to have a baby, not punish the girl for having sex.

While I understand this issue, I fail to see how it becomes a reason to unilaterally strip all parents of their right to have accurate knowledge of their minor children's medical information and be allowed to participate in decisions regarding their care.

 

[ducklite]

But wouldn't the cost of this care fall under the insured parents plan. How could you keep them out of the loop and then ask them to pay the bills and deal with the insurance company?

In most communities a teen in this situation could get free prenatal care from one of several places, including Planned Parenthood, Community Health Centers, and various groups who advocate pro-life choices who are happy to cover medical bills.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

While I understand this issue, I fail to see how it becomes a reason to unilaterally strip all parents of their right to have accurate knowledge of their minor children's medical information and be allowed to participate in decisions regarding their care.

I would rather see my child get care without me knowing about it if the other option was no care.

Anne

 

[iloveboardwalk]

In most communities a teen in this situation could get free prenatal care from one of several places, including Planned Parenthood, Community Health Centers, and various groups who advocate pro-life choices who are happy to cover medical bills.

Anne

I don't really see this as a pro-life/pro-choice issue. I am not advocating making abortion illegal, that's not my stance on the abortion issue. My problem with this is that parental authority and rights are being stripped away.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

I would rather see my child get care without me knowing about it if the other option was no care.

Anne

Luckily, those are not the only two options.

 

[Keli]

I know I had to sign a consent form for a dr. to see my dd when she was a minor. Also, the dentist, and orthodontist. Of course the main purpose of signing the consent form was probably because I was also acknowledging the fact that I was financially responsible for the resulting medical bills.

I think parents should be told if their minor child is pregnant.

 

[ducklite]

I don't really see this as a pro-life/pro-choice issue. I am not advocating making abortion illegal, that's not my stance on the abortion issue. My problem with this is that parental authority and rights are being stripped away.

I'm not sure where you got that I was making it into a pro-life/pro-choice issue. I was merely stating how a girl could get prenatal care without having to go through her parents insurance.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Luckily, those are not the only two options.

What would the options be then? For a child who will not tell her parents, even if it means not getting the care?

Anne

 

[iloveboardwalk]

I'm not sure where you got that I was making it into a pro-life/pro-choice issue. I was merely stating how a girl could get prenatal care without having to go through her parents insurance.

Anne

you said:

"and various groups who advocate pro-life choices who are happy to cover medical bills"

You brought it into the discussion, I read that to mean that pro-choice people would be willing to pay for a teen to subvert parental authority. Perhaps I read it wrong.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

What would the options be then? For a child who will not tell her parents, even if it means not getting the care?

Anne

Well I'm not sure what the option might be. I am in favor of discussing it and trying to find other options. I don't think I necessarily need to have the answer though. I am not going to just let go of my parental rights just because some teens won't go to their parents.