Teenagers Vs Parents

Do teenagers have the same rights as adults to make decisions about birth control without their parents’ consent? Do parents have the right to know that birth control has been prescribed or given to their teenager? There is simply no real answer to these questions of children’s rights versus parents’ rights. There are strong opinions regarding this subject for both sides of the argument and mine is that parents have every right to give parental consent to make this and all decisions regarding their teenage children. According to Martin Guggenheim, director of the Juvenile Rights clinic of the New York University school of Law. “There are no stated principle in law that parents must know what a child is doing, but they do have constitutional

It is the parent’s responsibility to make sure their teenager has a place to live, clothes, food, and health insurance. It is the parent that has to pay for the insurance and the prescription for the birth control, in some cases. Parents have every right to know what their money is being used for and what affects their child affects the parent. Ultimately whatever consequences that happen to the teenager happens to the parent as well.

Some teens may need birth control for medical reasons, such as to regulate their periods, however parents should have the final decision if their child should have it or not. If the teenager feels they are responsible enough to have sex, then they should be responsible enough to discuss this matter with their parent and get parental

It has generated angry debate over such fundamental and sensitive questions concerning the rights of parents and those of children and the role that the Government plays in the way families deal with the sexuality of their children.” (Brozan, 1982) The proposed regulation would require that notification letters be mailed to parents of “un-emancipated” minors within 10 days of their being prescribed a birth-control drug or device in a facility receiving funds under Title 10 of the Public Health Service Act. This only informs the parents after the fact, and doesn’t necessarily give the parents’ consent of the decision that was made less to 10 days ago. (Brozan, 1982) Research thus shows that requiring teens to tell a parent before they can access contraceptive services doesn’t reduce their sexual activity – it will just put their health and lives at risk. They will postpone or miss screenings and treatments for STD’s, and other vital health care services. Over half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur in adolescents. “In 2011-2013, among unmarried 15-19-year-olds, 44% of females and 49% of males had had sexual intercourse. These levels have remained steady since