<p>"PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Pupils at a city middle school will be able to get birth control pills and patches at their student health center after the local school board approved the proposal Wednesday evening.</p>
<p>The plan, offered by city health officials, makes King Middle School the first middle school in Maine to make a full range of contraception available to students in grades 6 through 8, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services…"</p>
<p>Sad. I assume they offer condoms as well?
(Probably not needed–it is the older boys/men who prey on these young girls).</p>
<p>This has been on my mind since I saw the story on the Today Show this morning. I think it’s tragic that it’s even an issue–birth control for 11 to 13 year-olds. I do think birth control is preferable to child birth, parenthood or abortion for these kids. I also understand the confidentiality issues (note that the school has been granted blanket permission by the kids’ parents to treat them–but not necessarily been informed of what they are being treated for (unless the kid has granted access)–and the kids’ rights to privacy are protected by our federal government under the HIPA act). It seems to me that if an 11 year-old kid is having sex, there should be a high index of suspicion that that kid is being sexually or otherwise abused or, at least, neglected–this is not normal behavior for children of this age! As mandated reporters of child abuse, nurses and other health professionals, as well as educators, have are responsibility to protect that child. Isn’t there a conflict here? Are the kids’ rights to privacy outweighed by the mandate that the adult report?</p>