Dear Parents and Grand Parents,
A note from your neighbor from Otsego
I have been Pro-Life since before Roe vs. Wade and I know most of the reasons to oppose Abortion and Euthanasia, but I ran into something I didn't know. You may be aware of it, but according to the people I have asked, you are likely not aware.
I have signed the privacy forms at medical appointments, satisfied that it was for my own good and my doctors and the law were looking out for me, and they were. I never questioned my doctors anyway, nor studied the law for pros and cons. I am a law abiding citizen, but not a very responsible Pro-Lifer.
What I learned recently was that our children, as young as twelve, have adult privacy privileges. The result is that unless your child requests your presence or consent they may receive medical or mental treatment without you even being aware. And the request one time may not carry over to the next appointment. Your child must request your presence or consent each visit or, by law, the doctor or counselor may not share the results with you.
Now this came as a surprise to me, but it is in the law, and it is in the papers you sign at the doctor’s office. However, I learned it from my Pro-Life contacts, not my doctor. The reason is simple enough. The doctor belongs to an institution, a hospital system. Institutions, for their own protection, are responsible to the law. Their stated purpose, such as caring for your health, may have the loftiest goals, but at the end of the day they are an institution.
Most institutions are like this. Governmental. Educational. Business. Healthcare. Even Religious. It must be this way. They are responsible to their purpose and to their legal obligations. What they are NOT responsible for is informing you as to the effects of their actions on you and your loved ones. The information is available and it is your responsibility to find it, learn it and protect you and yours. I do not make this up. An institution explained it to me.
There are other institutions out there. One of the early ones, created by God, is Parenthood. God sent Adam and Eve forth to expand the human race. When He did this He gave them everything they needed to complete the task. His Grace.
Parenthood is God's Plan and His institution. He gives special Grace to each and every parent. Of course, we are children of Adam and Eve, and as such we have a problem accepting all the grace He offers. Even so, to the extent that we accept His grace we will be successful, and we ARE successful. It's God’s Plan, and Gods plan is perfect.
Enter the institutions of man. Thanks to the Serpent, we like to think we can fix things ourselves. Someone's child has a runny nose. Maybe a broken arm. This parent is wayward and that one works too much. We can't fix it all but there should be standards. So we create an institution to identify and enforce standards. A noble concept. A lofty purpose. The only problem is these institutions are populated by humankind. The standards they create and enforce are tainted with all the sins of men. Still these institutions must be honored and protected.
God's institutions, including Parenthood, are governed and enforced by God's Law. We all know Parenthood takes precedence over human institutions. We know because God's law is written in our heart.
Human institutions are by nature jealous of, and at odds with God's Law. Because of our sinful nature, good and caring people think they can do it better. These are good folks taking on tasks that need some attention. But they must act according to the law, and it's not God’s law. They have the authority of men, but not the Grace of God.
So what can we do about it. Protect God's law. Insist on your God given Parental rights. Look up and study our privacy laws and make them work for you and yours. And please, please educate your children to insist on your knowledge and consent every time they receive medical or mental treatment. Let them know that their caregivers are there to help them and you are there to love and protect them.
Pray for your children and pray for the grace to love and serve them.
Institutions of men maybe under no legal obligation to share this information, but now that you know you are under a moral obligation. Share these laws and their effect with your family and friends. Certainly share them with any young parents that you meet. Let there be no reason for ignorance of this law.
Pray for the good people who are institutional workers, that they may receive the grace to follow God's Law.
Pete,
Your neighbor from Otsego