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The North Carolina legislature has
sent back to the judiciary committee proposed legislation that would exclude
under-18 youth from receiving medical and mental health services without
written, notarized parental consent. Proponents of H693 aimed to prevent
under-age youth from receiving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for
pregnancy, abortions, STDs, and HIV, and to place healthcare decisions in
parents’ hands. Supporters included the N.C. Values Coalition and the North
Carolina Family Policy Council.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) service providers stated that H693, potentially the most
restrictive law in the United States, will prevent teens without a trusted
adult in their lives from obtaining needed “mental health or sexual health
services.” For example, teens would need notarized parental approval to receive
counseling from the professionally licensed staff of Time Out Youth, a
Charlotte-based LGBT advocacy organization.
Opponents also fear the bill would
result in increased incidence of STDs and HIV among youth. According to CDC, HIV
incidence increased by 22 percent from 2008 to 2010 among young men ages 13–24
who have sex with men. LGBT Center of Raleigh Executive Director James Miller
stated that youth who know they are infected with HIV or STDs are less likely
to engage in risky behavior. He feared the bill would prevent youth from
accessing competent medical care.
The North Carolina AIDS Action
Network and the North Carolina chapter of the National Association of Social
Workers have urged citizens to contact their legislators and voice their
opposition to H693.
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.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
