California Law Lets Minors Seek STD Prevention

Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday signed into law a measure allowing children age 12 and older to seek medical care for the prevention of STDs, including vaccination against human papillomavirus, without parental consent. The bill was one of hundreds Brown acted upon ahead of an evening legislative deadline.

Authored by Assembly member Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), AB 499 pitted public health officials against parental-rights advocates, vaccine opponents, and religious and conservative groups. Previously, minors could consent to STD diagnosis and treatment but not to preventive services. Advocates said AB 499 would give children access to potentially life-saving care.

Brown “obviously doesn’t care about informed consent for patients or parental consent for dads and moms,” said Randy Thomasson, president of the conservative SaveCalifornia.com, in a prepared statement. The measure gives girls “a false sense of security that they can have all the sexual activity they want without risking developing cervical cancer or a raft of other negative consequences.”

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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