Emergency Contraception in High Schools

Parent Cafe
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<p>I think if a child is in need of birthcontrol services- we could also argue a couple more things.
THat- since we generally agree that sexual activity by minors is not desired and if the guidance of the parents was not sufficent to prevent sexual activity & pregnancy- the parents influence must not have been sufficent-existing- and so they are superceded by the communities duty to support all the members
and the individual right to health care.</p>

<p>(Plan B is actually a contraceptive not an abortofacient, so if an established pregnancy- PLan B will not be effective- it is generally believed it prevents ovulation and or implantation)</p>

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<p>

Yes. First of all, the parent is not “forcing” a pregnancy; it’s not like he/she dragged the daughter to the fertility clinic for in-vitro fertilization. There is a vast, vast difference between actively forcing another person into doing something and passively not permitting the person to do away with the logical consequences of her actions. </p>

<p>Second of all, we already - philosophically and legally - allow for parents to make reasonable medical decisions for their children. If a parent does not believe in contraception and abortion (and believes that Plan B’s method of not allowing a fertilized egg to implant is tantamount to abortion), why should the parent allow the child to engage in what they deeply believe is a sin? Is it wrong for parents to raise their children with religious values? (By the way, I fully condone the right of parents to raise their children without religious values - but I think that it is a parent’s decision.) My parents have made medical decisions for me - to not undergo plastic surgery after a bad accident (which could have left me with scars); to not only allow but require me to play sports after I got stress fractures (orthodics ended the problem); to take me (or not) to the hospital when I sprained ankles. Those are all reasonable medical decisions that can go both ways - medicine itself is not an exact science and there are diametrically opposed choices, both of which can be reasonable. I see no reason to kick parents out of such decision-making. </p>

<p>At my high school, you had to get parental permission to have an inhaler. You had to get parental permission to store Advil with school nurse. But Plan B should be available, no questions asked? </p>

<p>Third, a lot of people (deliberately?) conflate notice and permission. Parental notice does not, in any way, stop the child from obtaining Plan B. It does, however, alert the parent to the fact that there are side effects to worry about. It also allows them (if they find out before, not after) to give relevant medical history of which the child may not be aware. </p>

<p>As for girls who might be pregnant by incest - doesn’t a “no questions asked” approach to Plan B only help the perpetrator to continue the incest? Here’s what happens: girl confides in her best girl friends. Girl friends say to go to the nurse’s office and get Plan B. Girl does that, is relieved that she’s not going to get pregnant, but thinks, on some level, that she just helped him get away with it.</p>

<p>Philosophically, I cannot think that this is actually good for women. I know how teenage boys think. I know, from experience, that the availability of abortion encourages men to pressure women for sex. I can only imagine that this will make it worse - “C’mon, baby, don’t worry - you can get the morning-after pill tomorrow, and your parents never even have to know.” </p>

<p>Of course, I fall into the (silent but large) category of people who think that if you can’t have sex responsibly, then you shouldn’t be having sex… and I have no problem with parents imparting that value into their children. </p>

<p>I am a supporter of Plan B. I’m just not a supporter of the government going over parents’ heads and telling them that they know what is best for their kids. If Plan B is available OTC, fine - that is philosophically and legally different from it being provided by the government in a manner that is inconsistent with all other medical treatment.</p>

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<p>I agree wholeheartedly with ariesathena. Parental notification, not necessarily consent. Information in schools as to where to receive the medical services, not services in the schools.</p>

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<p>“I can see the objection to having the public schools be the place where Plan B is dispensed. Perhaps their role should be limited to referring to Planned Parenthood, if asked.”</p>

<p>This is exactly what I would advocate for.</p>

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<p>“If NYC implements this policy, I hope steps are taken to make sure girls understand this is an emergency option and not something they can do on a regular basis.”</p>

<p>Who would keep track of that? We all know teens are going to live forever. Send them to the department of health, who already has their full medical records, and can follow-up.</p>

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<p>“I guess I don’t understand the argument here.
Those who say parents should be informed and involved and that their children would come to them…well those kids WOULD go to their parents with an issue like this. So even if the drug were given out, these kids would probably still talk to their parent.”</p>

<p>I respectfully disagree with this. It all depends on the family dynamic at a particular moment in time. If a parent has recently lost a job, if there is illness or something else going on at the exact time, many responsible kids who have great relationships will be reluctant to add to parental burdens. There is also the normal, average family where the kids may not want to disappoint parents and even families where the parents are imperfect, but still loving and responsible. Kids don’t always do what we think they will/should, which is why they’re kids. When I was 17, I made a decision that quite literally almost cost my life. My father was undergoing chemo at the time and I couldn’t bear to add to their difficulties. Of course, I was too immature and foolish to realize that my parents were mature and wise enough to understand that my problem was easily resolved, although unpleasant, and that the alternative was to lose a child. I don’t expect many teenagers to have that full perspective. Sometimes we take actions that cause problems, sadness, anger, embarrassment, but they can be resolved, and that is part of the consequence of making poor choices.</p>

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<p>"who are not currently communicating well with their parents, "</p>

<p>You don’t know this Mini.</p>

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<p>they could also have a release form as our school/district has at beginning of year.
The high schools host health clinics and extensive health forms filled out , at the beginning of year,by parents are needed for student to be seen by NP- psych or a nurse.
It wouldn’t be difficult to include the list of medications that is held at the clinic and for the parent to indicate which ones they prefered or wanted withheld.</p>

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<p>Zoosermom:</p>

<p>What is the current alternative? How effective is it in preventing teenage pregnancy and abortions?</p>

<p>We don’t know how the policy would play out. Perhaps the girls would talk to their parents. Perhaps the parents would take them to their doctors for the requisite medical exam and prescription. Perhaps the girls do not have regular doctors and would need to rely on the school nurse, even if they had good communications with parents (I recall a CC poster in that situation who is now at Yale). And perhaps, the girls are unwilling to confide in their parents. We just do not know. What we do know is that there are still too many unplanned and unwanted pregnancies. Some result in abortions, which must be far less desirable than using Plan B; some result in children and their mothers on welfare.
I believethat Bloomberg would not have introduced this policy if the current situation were satisfactory. </p>

<p>Teenage sex has been a fact of life for centuries. Even premarital sex has been around for centuries (See Stephanie Coontz work on the history of the American family, or Laurel Ulrich’s The Midwife’s Tale set in 18th-century Maine). Human nature has not changed, but social mores have. We now marry later. In the 18th-century, it was not unusual for courting couples to get married after the girl was pregnant (rather than before). Nowadays, sexuality, marriage and reproduction have all become separated. We, as a society, are trying to deal with the consequences.</p>

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<p>Marite, I do respect your position and am not trying to be rude in any way. I don’t think minor children have to right to be unwilling to talk with their parents about medical care. That is simply unacceptable to me. Parents have to be the ultimate authority in the household. I would find referral to the Department of Health completely acceptable as the action to be taken by the school nurse. Here in New York, that’s a pretty easy thing to do and the DOH would have records going all the way back for as long as the child has been living in NYC, whereas the school may or may not. The professionals at DOH are also fully-trained and experienced in this issue and, I think, would be best at ensuring follow-up care and tracking the individual girls. Which I do think is necessary because of the risk of ectopic pregnancy, which is quite real. I would be fine with condoms and even spermicide being available in the schools, but not medication. What is to stop a girl who has had Plan B multiple times from lying to the school nurse? Do we want to risk that? I don’t. As far as teenaged pregnancies in New York, many of them are an affirmative choice, rather than an accident.</p>

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<p>

Great idea, Emerald. Also helps parents to discuss the issue with their children in a very non-confrontational setting.</p>

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<p>Zoosermom:</p>

<p>I don’t see anyone being rude, myself included. And since I have only boys, this does not affect me personally.</p>

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<p>Right. So how do we enforce that so that it does not result in unwanted pregnancies or abortions?</p>

<p>I’m not arguing about the rights or wrongs of the situation but about reality and practicalities. How quickly could a referral to DOH result in the student getting Plan B, if needed? How many Planned Parenthood sites exist in NYC, as opposed to how many schools? Is a girl less likely to lie to parents, doctors, etc… than a school nurse? Are girls who are engaged in hooking up telling their parents or doctors?<br>
One of the first books I read after coming to the US was Philip Roth’s Good-bye Columbus about a Radcliffe girl whose mother discovers is sexually active when she finds a diaphragm buried under her underwear. Have communications between parents and children improved since then?</p>

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<p>"I’m not arguing about the rights or wrongs of the situation but about reality and practicalities. How quickly could a referral to DOH result in the student getting Plan B, if needed? "</p>

<p>Immediately. Even on lowly Staten Island it’s an immediate thing. DOH is the healthcare provider (in its incarnations, I mean) for many poor kids in NYC. Vaccinations, well child, all sorts of things. It really is quite common. Planned Parethood is quite accessible in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but less so in other boroughs. I do think a kid would be less likely to lie to a doctor outside of the school, as opposed to someone she may see every day. Also, the folks at DOH are true experts and would know the right questions to ask and red flags to look out for.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the clarification. My local DOH is another site I would not know about.</p>

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<p>The release form is a great idea. Promotes discussion. Let’s everyone think about this issue when they are not under stress. Will make medical history available. Good sugguestion.</p>

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<p>I didnt realize that other schools didn’t have similar offerings
but here is the link to the teen health center incase you want to see how they word their form
<a href=“http://www.garfieldhighschool.org/content/services/teen%20health%20center/index.htm[/url]”>http://www.garfieldhighschool.org/content/services/teen%20health%20center/index.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>zoosermom,</p>

<p>Sorry I bent you out of shape for my opinion, it does differ from yours. However, Why do you think your opinion fits all? What makes your POV the correct one? </p>

<p>MY POV is one of free choice, to use or not use a service. To place restrictions upon it (such as parent notification) reduces free choice. I would hope if my D needed something like this that we could talk about it, but if we couldn’t, I wouldn’t want her to not have access to this service … IF she wanted it. </p>

<p>Should the government force her to talk to me? Why would I want that? What part in the parent/child relationship should the government force? Do you really have a relationship with a child the government forces to communicate with you when something goes wrong? Is that the relationship you’d want with your daughters? Or would you hope they come to you freely? </p>

<p>I hope my daughter comes to me or her mother and talks to one of us. For the most part she does and sometimes we talk and other times we yell and argue (Irish household), cry and hug. I am sorry if not every family has that type of relationship, I don’t think forced government notification/parent permission is the key to a healthy relationship with children. </p>

<p>Just me, just my opinion.</p>

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<p>“Sorry I bent you out of shape for my opinion, it does differ from yours. However, Why do you think your opinion fits all? What makes your POV the correct one”</p>

<p>I never said that and you can’t seriously say that I did. I objected to the sarcastic, nasty and rude tone of your post. Plenty of people here disagree with me. They just have enough class to be polite in doing so.</p>

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<p>the thing is that many parents I imagine are not great about discussing things with their kids- even when the kids try and bring it up
I realize my parents were wacked- but they probably aren’t that uncommon-
I didn’t even know where “babies” came from till I was in 6th grade- despite my mother telling me to listen to an Art Linkletter record ( it made me picture my parents playing leapfrog naked)
My information about " menstruation" came from a Kotex"kit for teens", that didn’t discuss anything beyond sanitary napkins and their usage ( ??) nothing about sex-
She didn’t know I was having sex until I thought I was pregnant and she over heard me calling Planned Parenthood to make an appt for an exam. She was horrified that they would give me birth control without her knowledge- but she hadn’t really been a example of good communication. ( I wasn’t pregnant- thank goodness- although this new information didn’t open up new lines of communication- instead I was now supposed to go to “therapy” to learn what was “wrong” with me)</p>

<p>I think parents should be informed- but I also recognize that some parents are abusive and their kids will need outside help .</p>

<p>(Some schools don’t really have adaquate health classes, and if they don’t get it at home- it may be really hard for kids to get the information- because they Know it all- already , right?
I am more concerned about them not getting appropriate- accurate health care information- because high school may be the last place they get this stuff- )
I think the health forms are very important for all parents to fill out.
Classes go on field trips,even overnights, things happen at school & there needs to be updated contact numbers every year, as well as updated health info.
It only takes one incident for a school to really regret that they didn’t update the forms.</p>

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<p>( it made me picture my parents playing leapfrog naked)</p>

<p>I just spit tea all over my monitor. What a visual!</p>