They're busted. Bring on the RICO. Bring on the FACE. Bring on the individual civil lawsuits. Bring on the class action lawsuit.
Posted on 08/14/2002 5:29:47 PM PDT by ninenot
More than half of Wisconsin teen girls would stop using sexual health care services or delay treatment for sexually transmitted diseases if their parents were told they were attempting to get prescription contraceptives, a new study says.
The findings, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association, suggest that mandatory parental notification could increase the number of pregnancies and the spread of STDs in a state already plagued by high pregnancy rates among its teens.
"We have confidential services and we need to keep it that way," said Diane Reddy, an associate professor and director of health psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee who is lead author of the study. "Requiring parental notification would have a very negative impact here."
Reddy said that many of the girls "are fearful of being physically or emotionally abused by their parents, not being allowed to see their boyfriends, losing privileges and of disappointing their parents," and that although they would stop seeking services, most would continue to have sex.
"We strongly support parental involvement," she said. "But the point is, requiring parental notification won't force girls to talk to their parents."
According to the study, 47% of the teens surveyed statewide said that they would stop using all Planned Parenthood services if their parents were notified. In addition, 7% would delay treatment or testing for HIV or other STDs and 4% would discontinue pregnancy testing. However, although they would stop using sexual health care services, 99% of the girls indicated they would continue to have sex.
Data for the study was collected from 950 sexually active teens who agreed to take the written survey while waiting to be seen at one of 33 Planned Parenthood sites.
A separate sample, obtained from three clinics in Milwaukee, had similar findings.
Planned Parenthood aims "to ensure confidential access to care" for its patients, said Lisa Boyce, vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin.
But the organization is required to notify authorities in cases of abuse or if a child is mentally ill or young, Boyce said.
"Government should not be a barrier to teens who are trying to act responsibly and seek important medical care," she said.
Mandatory parental notification for teens seeking prescribed birth control pills or other devices is a controversial topic that has been discussed but not enacted in Wisconsin. Legislation also has been introduced in nine other states and Congress.
State Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) co-sponsored the 1999 parental notification bill, which never made it out of committee. He said parents have a right to know if their children are sexually active.
"It says the types of kids who fool around don't tell their parents about it. That's not surprising," he said. "I side with the parents. By requiring parental notification, these clinics have less influence."
But Clare Schuetz, a 17-year-old senior at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee, disagrees.
"Because they're attempting to be sexually active in a safe way, it's a good thing," she said. "Parents should be talking about what they hope and expect from their children, and that way they'll know the choices they (children) make would be similar to their own because they've articulated what they want from them."
Although Wisconsin teen pregnancy rates are below the national average, Milwaukee's rate needs improvement, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Milwaukee has the second-highest rate of teen pregnancy of major cities in the country after Baltimore - and it's been at or near the top of the list for many years. In 1999, 20.3% of babies born in Milwaukee were born to teenagers, according to a report by the Casey Foundation.
In some suburbs, although the count is much lower than in the city, the number of teen births has doubled or nearly tripled in the last decade, according to the state Department of Health and Family Services.
In addition, gonorrhea cases have spiked in Milwaukee, and chlamydia rates in Wisconsin also are among the country's highest.
"Discussion of sexual activity with parents is a very sensitive topic, and talking about contraception is the acknowledgment of future activity," said state Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee), who also is an obstetrician. "But parents should have regular discussions with their children about their sexual activity and their sexual function."
That way, "it won't be such a shock when they're 16 and it comes up," he said.
State Rep. Carol Owens (R-Oshkosh), another sponsor of the Assembly bill, said children do talk with their parents about sex.
"My problem with Planned Parenthood is they're encouraging young girls to go behind their parents' backs," Owens said.
Wasserman said that if teens are afraid to seek treatment or delay treatment, they could cause permanent damage to their reproductive systems, as well as raise health care costs associated with treatment.
"I would strongly be opposed to mandatory parental notification just because it just doesn't work," he said. "But not only does it not work, it becomes about life and death, especially with HIV out there."
The paper does not say so, but this study was paid for by Planned Parenthood.
As in other States, having relations with an individual under the age of 18 is a statutory criminal act. We note that PP does NOT report criminal acts.
Last, sad note: the quoted girl is a student at a Milwaukee "Catholic" high school. 26 years of Rembert Weakland is surely enough, don't you think?
These studies would be a real hoot, if they weren't so serious.
In related news, people that do studies said that they found after doing a recent study that more studies are needed. And that they are studying the results of the study and hope to have a study of the study about studies available soon. Just as soon as the study is ready. All of which is under study.
And good riddance to Weakland. He degenerated into nothing more than an anti-Catholic gadfly. He is entitled to his views, but not entitled to use his position to say that they carry the weight of his church.
They're busted. Bring on the RICO. Bring on the FACE. Bring on the individual civil lawsuits. Bring on the class action lawsuit.
"On the other hand, providing medication to minor children without their parents' consent will open a meaningful dialog between the generations and inspire trust, confidence, and a warm, supportive environment," she added.
Translation: "We have to present the image of support for parental involvement through this empty rhetoric or soccer moms would crucify us and man would the money well dry up! However, notifying parents that we're giving their kids drugs would allow the parents to usurp our authority as proxy agents of the State, and that goes against our socialist plan."
My sixteen year old daughter can't leave her high school campus for lunch without our specific permission. However, she can get an abortion from "Planned Parenthood" without me knowing a thing about it.
THAT is a fact. Verified.
If ANYONE here even ATTEMPTS to defend that f**ked up, twisted logic, I'll take your head off.
Ummm...perhaps the kind that makes a TON of cash from other "progressive" people who think that it is a right and a good "choice" for teenage children to have access to birth control and abortions (also without parental knowledge or consent) ??
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