The age of consent...?

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Rosendula
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The age of consent...?

Post: # 168089Post Rosendula »

I received a letter from school regarding the Human Papillomavirus (H.P.V.) Immunisation. I know there will be a good few of you who will wonder what this is, so I'm going to quote the first paragraph of the letter to shed a bit of light on it:
"From this September the Government is continuing to deliver its immunisation programme to help prevent cervical cancer. The phase of this year's programme is again aimed at girls who are 12-13 years old and those girls who did not fall into this category last year when the programme was first introduced (current Year 10 and Year 11 and any new starters)."
Now, I don't have a question for you guys about the immunisation, but about something else it said in the FAQs that came with the letter. Again, it's easiest if I quote it:
"What if [my daughter] wants the vaccination but, as her parents, we'd rather she didn't have it?
You should discuss this with your doctor or nurse to get more advice. The decision is legally hers as long as she understands the issues in giving consent but the nurse would much rather have your permission as well. It is important for your daughter's future to appreciate that having the vaccination now will protect her from the most common cause of cervical cancer for many years to come."
What!!??? A 12/13 year old can go against her parents' wishes and give consent for a medical procedure? I thought they had to be 16. How long have parents not had the right to do what they think is best for their child? When did this happen and why? What if we think she should have it but she doesn't want it? Would they refuse to give it? Or would they give it based on our consent? As it happens, we don't want our 15 year old to have it, and she doesn't want it either, and there are medical grounds for her not to have it, so no problem for us. I'm just astounded that we appear not to have a voice in this.
Rosey xx

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168090Post Helsbells »

Hi Rosendula,

I too am shocked by this it seems quite bizzare to me.
On another note I am a teacher of girls who are at the age of getting the HPV virus and they are all relly confused about it and I dont believe they are being given the right information.
Many of them believe that the jab will protect them from all cancer, and many of them are not aware that they can be fully protected from the HPV virus by using condoms or only having intercourse with one person (assuming they are a virgin and the other person is also).
I dont believe the children are being given the right information on this. There is a lot of fear about it and I think parents are fearful that their children will be promiscuous.
They are also not aware that they are differant types of cirvical cancer and the jab only protects them from this one type. They dont realise that the HPV visus is a sexually transmitted disease and thus can be avoided as all other ones can.

Helen
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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168092Post Annpan »

Rosey, surely it is all down to legal responsibility?... if she committed a crime you wouldn't be held responsible. She is entitled to make her own choices (if she is capable of understanding the consequences)

As it happens the daughter of my next door neighbour died a few months ago from cervical cancer, she was only 27 (I don't know if it was HPV related).... I can't tell you the the amount of nights I have lay awake at night thinking of what her mum has been through and is going through.... and if they offered the vaccine to E tomorrow I would take it.
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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168096Post Rosendula »

Annpan, I remember you starting a thread when that happened, and I am so sorry to bring back tragic memories. :( :hugish: I understand your desire to protect E in any way you can, but that is my desire for my daughter, too. We do what we have to, don't we? And like I said, it's not really that much of an issue for us because despite her being offered it, I don't believe the would administer it to her even with everyone's consent, due to a medical condition that has only come to light recently.

Helen, what you said is interesting. I hadn't thought about it from that angle, but reading the letter it does come across a bit like a sales letter - like those you get offering to professional clean your carpets to protect you from bacteria, or telling you to drink a special drink to boost your immune system. I'd really just been angered by the fact that I don't appear to have a say in my daughter's well-being, yet they still want me to sign a consent form. :scratch: If they don't need my consent, why bother with the form? But you're right. There are other issues to address here too. Does anyone know anything more about this. The letter tells us the programme was "successful in its first year (over 700,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered)." I can't see how they can call it a success until they know whether there were any side effects. It's new! They can't know yet! (Although Dr Vernon Coleman reckons that to his knowledge, three girls have died after receiving the jab at the time of his writing. I would give a link to his website, but every time I go on it I get a virus!) Do we believe what we are told to believe, or do we do a bit of research and make our own minds up? My youngest was offered a new vaccination which I said no to on the grounds that I didn't believe it had been used on children for long enough for us to know side effects. I was treated like I was evil and abusing her in some way by not doing as I was told by 'professionals'.
Rosey xx

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168109Post Millymollymandy »

What annoys me is why this vaccine is not available to ALL women! :angryfire:

Also why on earth still bother to have the legal age of 16 as the age of sexual consent when this kind of letter is being sent out assuming that 12/13 year olds are going to have sex..... :scratch: If they have sex they can get into trouble legally yet they are being advised to get vaccinated against catching a STD. :scratch: Makes no sense to me whatsoever!
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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168112Post Annpan »

Girls have been immunised against Rubella at 12/13 because of the effects on the unborn child, same idea in my book.

I personally don't see what sexually activity has to do with actually getting the jab.... As I have said before about these mass public health procedures - There are stats somewhere that say X% of girls have had unprotected sex by the time they are 14/15/16... x% of girls who have unprotected sex will be infected with HPV
There might be bigger moral arguments about under-age sex but would we wish the risk of cervical cancer on girls just because they were a bit daft at 14?

Rosey, sorry if it sounds otherwise, but I absolutely agree with your choice to do what you need for your children, and for the appropriate conversations to be had in your home about the decision being made (obviously you have other factors in play here too)
But there are intelligent young girls out there who may want the vaccine even if their parents disagree (for some reason I picture religion making the decision in some households) The girl should be able to make her own choice to protect herself without fear of upsetting her parents.
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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168120Post Green Aura »

I'm not wholly sure what your concern here is Rose. I can appreciate that 12 does seem awfully young, but I think that's a relatively recent viewpoint.

If a girl is old enough to have sex, irrespective of legalities, isn't it better that she take appropriate action, against HPV or pregnancy.

I don't think she'll ask for parental consent to have sex.
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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168121Post Rosendula »

Hi Maggie,

My concern is that as a parent who loves and cares for her daughter and wants to do what I believe is best, I don't appear to have a say in it. I thought it was up to me until she's 16.
Rosey xx

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168126Post Mullein »

As i understand it the reason the age seems so young is that, at this age, they are unlikely to have been exposed to the virus already. This is also why it isn't offered to al women - because they are likely to have been exposed to it already. I think...

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168133Post lovelygreenleaves »

This is a difficult one. :scratch: Although it is young, some 12/13 year olds are very sensible (some aren't, of course) Some parents may also not be able to make a decision that is right for their child without thinking of their own beliefs. I think the most important thing is that the children have the right information on this, with both sides of the story.

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168140Post red »

I see your point Rosendula - it would put my back up.

thing is its a sort of grey area.. you cannot force medical treatment upon children without their consent, should you be able to withhold it? there are a number of years when the hand over of responsibility is sort of shared and its gets difficult to sort out who does make the choices.

however.. i think the school are out of order.. it seems they are promoting the vax with a big sales hype - then telling the kids they dont need parents permission.. its like playing to their urge to prove they are grown ups now etc... making a very one sided argument direct to the childrend all to get the vax taken up.

having said that, if i had a daughter I would want her to have the vax - I think its a good thing (but of course every person and choice is different for different reasons)
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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168144Post Green Aura »

I've no doubt you're a good and caring mum, Rose and I have no wish to offend.

I think the problem is that those who are maybe less good and caring are also the ones whose kids are getting pregnant at 14 and being exposed to HPV. They will also be the ones who don't sign consent forms and leave their kids exposed to just such eventualities. So consent has to be withdrawn.

As with all legislation and guidelines, they tend to be constructed for the benefit of the most vulnerable.

You, of all people, know how problematic parents can be :hugish:

I do have some concern, under this system, that some kids. like your daughter, might be given the vaccine and become very ill or worse, if the parents aren't involved.
Maggie

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168155Post the.fee.fairy »

I also think it should be offered to all women regardless of age or sexual activity. I do't see why women can't be tested and treated if theyhave the virus, or vaccinated if they don't. Otherwise, are we going to watch generations of women slowly die because they've caught the virus and developed cancer because they were too old? Or it was presumed that because they were (for example) in their 20s and therefore had already been exposed? I've never had unprotected sex. I don't want to take the pill because i have a condition that affects my ovaries, and every time i've asked for an alternative, such as the coil, i've been told that i can only have things with hormones in them. Therefore, i feel pretty confident in saying that i don't have the HPV virus, nor have i exposed myself to it. I want the vaccination in case i decide to have children at any point, or i finally get the copper only coil.

And...why hasn't there been a vaccination made for boys? If boys are passing it to girls, surely it makes just as much sense to vaccinate them too and eradicate HPV completely!

I also hate the fact that there is so much media hype over the vaccination, just because someone has been vaccinated, it is NOT going to make them promiscuous.

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168160Post Derry »

Rosendula wrote:A 12/13 year old can go against her parents' wishes and give consent for a medical procedure?
just thought id throw this in, at my doctors surgery, from the age of 13 parents arent supposed to go in the room with their kids, and anything is confidential.. if a mother came to the docs to ask if her daughter was on the pill, the staff cant disclose that info.. so in a way,, yes a 13 year old can go against parental wishes and get medical procedures and prescriptions/treatments etc

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Re: The age of consent...?

Post: # 168194Post Mullein »

The other way to look at it is to screen earlier. I'm very lucky, in that I live in Scotland and have requested the 2 yearly smear test since i was sexually active (17). When I was 23, abnormal cervical cells were detected and I underwent an outpatient (in and out in an hour) treatment which removed these cells. As i understand it, this isn't the case everywhere and you can't get a cervical smear until you are 25 in some places. Which, in my case, would mean the abnormal cells would have had 2 more years to grow - with possibly devastating results...

Giving young women access to screening as they need it would be potentially more empowering than vaccination? Maybe - don't know - don't have kids myself so...

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