Pros and Cons of school-based clinics for adolescents

[monicao]

Should reproductive services be included in school-based clinics? What are the ethical issues involved in providing reproductive information to adolescents, with or without parent consent?

[Junebugfairy]

parental consent is not required for reproductive health services, except abortion in some states,(which is easily bypassed) so imo school based clinics do not pose an issue with regard to 'permission' or consent.

the problem with this is the fact that some teens are unable to access these services, whether it is due to lack of $$ or lack of transportation. many teens do not have parents willing to educate them. discussions of contraception, std protection, or reproductive health is often lacking.

having a qualified health care professional to answer questions, offer advice, and help with resources, is imo a wonderful idea.

[mustlovepoodles, RN]

On a personal note, I would not want my daughter going to a school-based clinic. She's still underage, we have a good relationship, and if she needs GYN care we will get it for her. I understand that not all teens have this kind of support, and perhaps for them it would be a good thing.

[Junebugfairy]

from my experience, teens using clinics either have 2 reasons.. one, they absolutely cannot or do not have open communication with parents. the second reason is that some teens and/or families do not have insurance, so clinics like planned parenthood or school based teen clinics would offer free or subsidized care.