Posted on 10/09/2011 3:25:22 PM PDT by South40
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed controversial legislation to greatly expand the rights of minors to obtain preventive treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without parental consent, including an HPV immunization for cervical cancer.
Brown did not explain his reasoning in the announcement Sunday afternoon.
Assembly Bill 499 was carried by Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, D-San Diego. She said the legislation addresses a gap in the law that forbids prevention steps by doctors but allows minors under 18 to undergo abortions and post-infection treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without the approval of parents or a guardian.
Critics counter the measure is an unwarranted intrusion into parental rights, worry about the safety of certain immunizations and contend that drug-makers that contribute to legislative campaigns are behind the law because they stand to profit.
The new law will take effect Jan. 1.
Among other things, it will allow young girls on their own to be vaccinated for the human papilloma virus. Most of those infected with strains of HPV experience little, if any, symptoms. But some strains can cause cervical cancers that can be fatal if untreated, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mandatory vaccinations of the brand-name drugs Cervarix or Gardasil have drawn protests nationally among those opposed to government-forced immunizations and fears of serious side effects. Critics also say the drug companies are pushing for the measure to increase sales.
California encourages the vaccination. The state Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control has said it’s safe and that any side effects are minor.
Many in the medical field and advocates for minors agree parental consent is ideal. But they say in some cases sexually active minors without a strong relationship with their parents may be too scared to seek approval.
That silence could lead to serious illnesses, or even death, said supporters of Atkins’ bill. There are also new post-exposure medications for many STDS, including HIV, according to many in the medical profession.
“Gov. Jerry Brown has signed controversial legislation to greatly expand the rights of minors to obtain preventive treatment for sexually transmitted diseases without parental consent, including an HPV immunization for cervical cancer.”
Geeze, California should be EMBARRASSED. They still haven’t caught up to Texas where our governor tried his best to MANDATE HPV immunization of little girls, so that they could have wild and crazy sex in their teen years.
California should be ashamed of itself.
My sincere sympathies! Good grief.
Who will pay? And who will pay if the child experiences a negative medical outcome to the vaccine?
I know, vaccinations are a terrible blight on society.
it will allow young girls on their own to be vaccinated for the human papilloma virus
What other preventive medical treatment for STDs is there? Hormonal contraceptives are associated with higher rates of infection, especially for minors.
I hear ya, lived here all my life. This state is too far gone to be saved.
A school nurse cannot give a teen aged student an aspirin w/o parental permission but that same student can get an abortion and/or vaccinations w/o her parents' knowledge?
Liberalism is a disease.
I’m not aware of any preventive treatment for STDs, other than abstinence.
And no, I do not consider a vaccine in the category of “preventive treatment.”
This entire bill is ludicrous.
Ah! Gov. Moonbeam, spending his state into oblivion...er bankruptcy!
I thought CA was broke, even before he took office?
“”Who will pay? And who will pay if the child experiences a negative medical outcome to the vaccine?””
Excellent questions. I thought when I read this that a girl getting this vaccination without parents being aware, if/when she develops bad side effects from it, the parents won’t have a clue what’s wrong. They can take her to a doctor sure, but the last thing a doctor will tell them is the bad side effects are from the vaccination.
If people think there’s no risk to this, they have their heads in the sand.
OMG! They might die! There parents won’t have a chance to keep them from dying! OMG!
And that seems to be the basis for this additional law: if minors can have abortions without parental knowledge, then it's inconsistent for any other sex-related materials to be unavailable on the same terms.
Liberals like to pretend there are no costs.
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