Medical Stuff & Teens...

Lately, there's been a lot of talk about medical procedures, meds & teens.  These have mostly revolved around  sex.  Should a teen be able to have access to:

• Birth control without a parent's consent?
• The Morning After pill without parental knowledge?
• Access to abortion services without parental consent?
• HIV testing without a parent's knowledge?

Teens are young & can make incredibly stupid mistakes, .  Not saying adults can't.  However, most young people don't have the experience to make some of life's more tricky choices.   In most instances, medical procedures & meds should require parental notification.  

However, not here.  If you're kid finds themselves needing any of the above mentioned medical options, then they're already playing an adult game.  Placing more pressure on them by confronting their parents with the news, may lead to even worse choices.   They could opt to have a baby in a bathroom & leave it in a trash can.

If we had adequate sex ed in our schools, part of this conversation might very well be moot.  But most schools have little, none or completely erroneous sex ed.   So here we are.  

If your kid wants birth control, at least they're trying to engage in sexual activity in a more educated & responsible manner than those who don't use contraception.    Use of contraception, depending on the type, could limit possibilities of STD's, HIV, pregnancy...  

If your teen is properly using contraception, then the need for some form emergency contraception is greatly lessened.  This also applies to abortions.  The proper use of condoms can limit the possible exposure to HIV.

If we let them have access to contraception & a reasonable amount of education to go with it we could alleviate the need for many of the other issues.  If a kid goes for a HIV test, at least they're trying to take some responsibility.  If they fear having to face both the test & their parents they may avoid both & be 1 of the many + people in the world living unaware of their HIV status.  That would not only endanger their own health, but most likely that of others as well.

To wrap it up, if you're kid is old enough to play the sex game, you had better give them all the tools they need to do it as intelligently as possible.  If that means parents take a back seat on some issues, then so be it.  Better the back seat, then none at all.

Cya..