Stop Allowing Children to Consent to Medical Care
If New York's minor consent bill becomes law, children will be able to consent to and receive drugs and vaccines intended to treat or prevent sexually transmitted diseases without their parent's knowledge or consent.
The New York State Assembly Committee on Health egregiously passed minor consent bill A276B on May 16, three weeks before the end of the legislative session. If this bill becomes law, children will be able to consent to and receive drugs and vaccines intended to treat or prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) at the FDA-established minimum age for each product, without their parent’s knowledge or consent.
This marks the first time in N.Y. State history that parents will be unaware of their child’s medical care and excluded from their healthcare decision-making process. Parents that are uninformed of their child’s medication or vaccination status are at an enormous disadvantage when seeking medical care in the event of an adverse reaction — putting children at risk of serious harm and death.
N.Y. has a history of rushing bills through and excluding voices of opposition. This bill has the potential to speed through the remainder of the legislative process onto Governor Hochul’s desk before the legislative session ends June 8.
Parental rights are in jeopardy in N.Y. State and across the country. A growing number of states already allow minors aged 12 and older to receive certain vaccines and drugs to prevent STDs, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medications known to have severe side effects. It should also be noted that A276B is built on shaky ground as a similar minor consent bill was struck down in federal court in Washington, D.C., for violating federal law.
This slippery slope towards unwillingly ceding parental rights is justified “under the broader umbrella of rights to reproductive healthcare and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.” We must stop government overreach that strips away parental rights under the guise of improving children’s health.
What You Can Do:
- New York residents: Fill out the form below to send a message to your state legislators and Gov. Hochul expressing your concerns about A276B.
- Share this page with your friends and family and encourage them to educate themselves on minor consent bills and, if appropriate, take action!
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