The Doctor is OUT
I have to say that the discussion surrounding the new Medicare/Centrelink Access card has passed me by somewhat, being distracted as I have by bad food and strange emo boy-pants.
However, I snapped back in again today when the AMA helpfully reminded people that the Access card will deny teenagers under the age of 18 free medical care if they do not obtain a signature from their parents for the doctors’ visit.
Now, like most parents of young kids, I am still optimistic about the teen years. I’d like to think that if Grizzlewick had a medical problem that he would consider discussing it with me and perhaps even seeking my support for any medical treatment he might need. However, I’m also very aware that for some young people, particularly those with a major concern about their health that is contrary to their parents views (and this could frankly be anything from fitting as a result of ecstasy use to teen pregnancy or even teen pregnancy PREVENTION*) sometimes need to seek a doctor’s advice without their parents present.
My folks were always pretty good about this. From the age of about 14, I went to the doctors’ office alone. Once you’re in there, of course you can discuss whatever you want. This would made more difficult if you have parents demanding to know why you need to visit the doctor, or in cases of parental abuse, where parents actively discourage you from visiting the doctor for fear you might report an assault.
Add to this the fact that some teens will already travel outside their local area to access services so that their secrets will be held (wow – you can really tell I’ve moved back to the country) and you’re looking at anything up to $100 just to have your fears alleviated or to access something as straightforward as the contraceptive pill.
While we’re on the subject, I don’t have a problem with teenage girls being on the pill – for me it was not so much a matter of contraception as it was a means of controlling my menstruation symptoms (which sometimes included fainting and always included headaches and bad cramps). Also, any teenage girl who comes near me is going to get a big fat lecture about how the pill is not nearly enough to protect yourself during a sexual encounter, and I think it’s safe to say that their ears will be ringing with detailed information about “taking precautions”. Not that girls will be the only ones getting this lecture, I plan to bore all of Grizzlewick’s friends of both genders absolutely senseless about sexual health and safety. Ha! I'm one of THOSE mothers!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not all for rampant teen orgies amongst Grizzlewick and his friends seven nights a week in my lounge room while I'm trying to watch A Difference of Opinion. But I do think that part of being a responsible parent is thinking about how your reaction contributes to the behaviour of kids – for better and for worse.
And as I've already outlined - if you don't want your parents to know about a medical treatment you're seeking, or even if you would just prefer that they didn't see you half-clothed or if you want to ask advice about your perceptions of THEIR HEALTH, you shouldn't have to ask their permission to see a doctor if you want some medical advice. That's what a free** public health service is supposed to be for, after all. And sadly Google doesn't have all the answers when it comes to diagnosing illnesses (bumpy red skin = OH MY GOD I'VE GOT LYME DISEASE! Hang on, I don't live in Massachusetts)
I’d like to think that we’re not so distrustful of our children and grandchildren that we’re forced to enact legislative frameworks in order to diddle them out of their right to access services which are supposed to be free and universal.
* an ounce of which is worth a pound of cure, one might argue.
** Ha! Did I just use the word "free" about health services??
However, I snapped back in again today when the AMA helpfully reminded people that the Access card will deny teenagers under the age of 18 free medical care if they do not obtain a signature from their parents for the doctors’ visit.
Now, like most parents of young kids, I am still optimistic about the teen years. I’d like to think that if Grizzlewick had a medical problem that he would consider discussing it with me and perhaps even seeking my support for any medical treatment he might need. However, I’m also very aware that for some young people, particularly those with a major concern about their health that is contrary to their parents views (and this could frankly be anything from fitting as a result of ecstasy use to teen pregnancy or even teen pregnancy PREVENTION*) sometimes need to seek a doctor’s advice without their parents present.
My folks were always pretty good about this. From the age of about 14, I went to the doctors’ office alone. Once you’re in there, of course you can discuss whatever you want. This would made more difficult if you have parents demanding to know why you need to visit the doctor, or in cases of parental abuse, where parents actively discourage you from visiting the doctor for fear you might report an assault.
Add to this the fact that some teens will already travel outside their local area to access services so that their secrets will be held (wow – you can really tell I’ve moved back to the country) and you’re looking at anything up to $100 just to have your fears alleviated or to access something as straightforward as the contraceptive pill.
While we’re on the subject, I don’t have a problem with teenage girls being on the pill – for me it was not so much a matter of contraception as it was a means of controlling my menstruation symptoms (which sometimes included fainting and always included headaches and bad cramps). Also, any teenage girl who comes near me is going to get a big fat lecture about how the pill is not nearly enough to protect yourself during a sexual encounter, and I think it’s safe to say that their ears will be ringing with detailed information about “taking precautions”. Not that girls will be the only ones getting this lecture, I plan to bore all of Grizzlewick’s friends of both genders absolutely senseless about sexual health and safety. Ha! I'm one of THOSE mothers!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not all for rampant teen orgies amongst Grizzlewick and his friends seven nights a week in my lounge room while I'm trying to watch A Difference of Opinion. But I do think that part of being a responsible parent is thinking about how your reaction contributes to the behaviour of kids – for better and for worse.
And as I've already outlined - if you don't want your parents to know about a medical treatment you're seeking, or even if you would just prefer that they didn't see you half-clothed or if you want to ask advice about your perceptions of THEIR HEALTH, you shouldn't have to ask their permission to see a doctor if you want some medical advice. That's what a free** public health service is supposed to be for, after all. And sadly Google doesn't have all the answers when it comes to diagnosing illnesses (bumpy red skin = OH MY GOD I'VE GOT LYME DISEASE! Hang on, I don't live in Massachusetts)
I’d like to think that we’re not so distrustful of our children and grandchildren that we’re forced to enact legislative frameworks in order to diddle them out of their right to access services which are supposed to be free and universal.
* an ounce of which is worth a pound of cure, one might argue.
** Ha! Did I just use the word "free" about health services??
posted by gigglewick at
9:14 am
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