Sen. Erin Grall[1] has filed a new parental rights[2] bill to require people under 18 to get their guardians’ permission in order to be treated for sexually transmissible diseases or receive information on contraception.
The Fort Pierce Republican last week filed SB 166[3], which would make several changes for minors’ access to health care to give parents more control.
Licensed health care professionals would still be allowed to examine minors for STDs without their parents’ approval. But under the bill, they would no longer be allowed to treat a minor’s STD without a guardian’s consent.
“The consent of a parent or guardian of a minor is not a prerequisite for an examination; however, the consent of a parent or guardian is required for treatment,” Grall’s legislation reads.
Among other changes, the 16-page[4] bill would strike out a provision in current state law that allows a physician to give minors maternal health and contraceptive information or do nonsurgical medical services if the doctor thinks the minor may “suffer probable health hazards if such services are not provided.”
The bill would also repeal language that allows minors to get outpatient crisis intervention services without their parents’ consent.
Parents have the right to make health care decisions for their child, but the bill would add new exemptions to deny parents control if they are being investigated for a crime against their child, their child has been placed into foster care, or other instances.
Grall’s bill also says parents would have the right to “review, inspect and consent to a survey” if minors are asked about their or their family’s political affiliations or religious beliefs, or about “legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers, the child or family,” among other topics.
Parents would also have the right to give written consent for a “biofeedback device” to be used on their children, the bill said.
“The term ‘biofeedback device’ means an instrument or a sensor used to measure bodily functions, such as heart rate variability, brain waves, or breathing rate, outside of a health care facility or provider’s office, for the purpose of improving performance,” the bill said.
Grall did not respond immediately to a request for comment Monday on her motivation for proposing these changes.
The Legislature reconvenes[5] Jan. 13.
References
- ^ Erin Grall (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ parental rights (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ SB 166 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ 16-page (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ reconvenes (www.flsenate.gov)