The general push in Western countries to lower the legal age of children is delicate and treacherous! A slippery slope!
Apparently, full legal rights for individuals at the low and still tender age of 18 was not enough!
How do we define maturity to make important consequential decisions when it comes to teenagers whose life experience is often quite negligible? Usually, parents try to do their best to protect their children from exposure to the many negative experiences of life happening all the time. Childhood is supposed to be a good and happy time before the reality of life kicks in at adulthood!
The increase of government/state interference with and dominance over parental rights is very concerning! Government paternalism at its worst! From a historical perspective it is a reversal of the achievements of civil society! In the past it was very common to separate children from their parents for all kind of state purposes!
More public debate and consensus about this important subject is urgently needed!
In the case of teenagers with significant mental health issues, there is the possibility that sometimes parents underestimate the issues and do not seek health care for their child. However, how often does this occur? Or how can parents be convinced that medical care is necessary?
This is just another example!
"This past week, Pima County began offering mental health services for minors without parental consent required, through a new program called “Not Alone.” Arizona law requires written or oral consent of a parent or legal guardian prior to a minor receiving mental health screenings or treatments.
Children under 13 years old must have their parents reach out to join the program. However, the program states that children 13 years old and older may obtain services without parental consent.
The program also will withhold information from parents. Clinicians won’t disclose information about a minor’s sexuality or gender identity, or any “consensual” sexual activity for minors aged 14 through 17, and will only inform parents if their child engages in a new form of self-harm. ..."
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