SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY

LENGTH: 522 words

COMMITTEE: HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE

SUBCOMMITTEE: HEALTH

HEADLINE: CARE PROVIDERS, PATIENTS RIGHTS

TESTIMONY-BY: MS. ADDIA WUCHNER, MEMBER OF THE BOARD,

AFFILIATION: NORTHERN KENTUCKY INDEPENDENCE HEALTH DISTRICT

BODY:
Statement of Ms. Addia Wuchner Member of the Board, Northern Kentucky Independence Health District

Committee on House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health

July 11, 2002

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, common sense, wisdom, and sound medical practice would agree that parents have the right to monitor and care for the health and welfare of their children.

The rights of parents to address and provide for their children's medical care has been undermined by controversial guidelines of Title X Federal Funding of Family Planning Services, transforming parent's right to know into a privacy issue.

The fact is that Title X blocks parents' rights and responsibilities to monitor their children's health. When minors seek contraceptive information, they must be informed about all birth control methods, treated for medical conditions and sexually transmitted infections and have medication prescribed and dispensed to them without their parents' knowledge or consent. Most parents would be shocked to learn that their teenage daughter may walk into one of these federally funded clinics and obtain free contraceptives, including injectables such as Depo- Provera, and emergency contraceptives (the morning after pill) without their knowledge or notification.

They would be shocked because, for centuries, all sorts of rights flowing from the parent-child relationship have been acknowledged and protected by law, among them decisions concerning custody, education and medical care. Yet today, when it comes to sex, the prevention and "treatment" of pregnancy, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, the federal government tells us neither Mother nor Father knows best.

Title X means your daughter, your granddaughter, or any minor female, can be put on hormonal medications or be given an emergency contraceptive (morning after pill), without those most knowledgeable - her parents or guardians - of her health and family health history being able to advise her regarding known risk factors that, in combination with contraindications or adverse effects, could lead to serious future health complications. While the clinician must ask her if she knows her own medical and family medical history (mandatory), it is irresponsible and dangerous to assume that a 13 or 15-year old would have a complete knowledge of such information. Most children are unaware of their family risk factors. It is also unethical for a medical professional to treat a patient and prescribe or dispense medication without a completed personal and family medical history.

Overall, lack of parental notification in the Title X program are affronts to parents' rightful role as the primary educators of their children. Government agencies and counselors cannot replace and should not interfere with the rights and responsibilities of parents, particularly in sensitive matters dealing with human sexuality. Government should protect the role of loving and supportive parents, yet make it possible to terminate the rights of parents who abuse the trust and privilege of being a parent.



LOAD-DATE: July 12, 2002