What's the difference between giving out condomns and giving out birth control pills? Um, I don't know. How about one is a simple piece of latex that can be purchased off the shelf at any drug store, and the other is a prescripition medication consisting of powerful hormones that alter body chemistry to simulate pregnancy? I don't understand how any medical facility could prescribe medication to a minor without parental consent. I seriously doubt they could give a minor any other medication without parental consent, like antibiotics or pain medications. Why are birth control pills any different?

What is the difference? Maybe that refusing to prescribe birth control to a sexually active teenager means a high risk of her being a teen-age mother.

I know that in many states (don't have specifics in hand), any girl of child-bearing age is entitled to get confidential birth control from her doctor or clinic.

Hey, I find you over here also! First time for me. Anyhow we often agree on issues but as I'm sure you know your reply leaves out many of the key 'factors' around this issue.

While your last sentence is indeed a fact, the top poster questions why this is a fact, and frankly I have to agree with them. Why is the govt allowing any confidential contact (even a discussion, let alone giving out a drug) between a thrid party and a CHILD?

I believe it is a vald question to ask: Does a CHILD earn additional rights when they become child-bearing?

As liberal as I am on social issues I say NO. The major reason relate to money and associated responsiblity;

Money; Should a minor be allowed to be the sole person that decides whether her family has to take on an additional financial burden? I say NO.

Those that are responsible for the financial security of the family (typically parents) should be the ones that decide.

Thus the parents should have the right to demand the use of birth control and also an abortion unless this minor can assume these responsiblities (move out and take care of herself and her kid).

This is why the parent has to know what this minor is doing and the state has no right to help the minor hide their behavior from the parent.

Of course I would instruct my child to use birth control AND to have an abortion IF she got pregrant and the situation wasn't right (which for 99% of minor is the case).

But to take away all my rights but then to stick me with all the responsiblities (after keeping me in the dark) is unfair.

AND, please do NOT assume only 'very poor' parents would allow something like this to happen. While this is often said I think it isn't a honest statement.

Well, I don't know... when there are studies out there indicating that only 33 percent of men use any form of birth control (i.e., condoms), passing out condoms probably isn't going to be terribly effective in preventing teen pregnancy.

The reason for this firestorm is that we like to assume our girls are pure, while taking the complete opposite with their boys (I've heard of dads buying their son a prostitute on their 18th birthday -- would any such idea ever cross their mind when it comes to their daughters? No.)

I believe the reason for the firestrom is that we like to assume that parents are dumbass and assholes. That if they learned what their kid was doing they would ONLY have a negative response and that the child would be harmed.

Says a lot about our society, doesn't it.