Do teens have a right to privacy about sex?

The Kansas Supreme Court’s review of whether Attorney General Phill Kline should be able to obtain patient records from abortion clinics isn’t the only Kline case dealing with medical privacy. A federal appeals court in Denver heard a request last week by Kline’s office to lift an order blocking the enforcement of his 2002 opinion that all health-care providers — including school nurses, psychiatrists and social workers — have to report to authorities any indications of underage sex, even if it was consensual and between teens. Kline’s argument is that, according to state law, any sexual relations with children younger than 16 is a crime. But health-care providers — which already report possible child rapes — argue that the reporting requirement is an invasion of privacy, and, of particular concern, they worry that it could discourage some minors from getting needed medical services, such as prenatal care.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

15 Comments

  1. JUSTA GUY
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 5:50 am | Permalink

    Damn, I am glad Kline wasn’t around when I was a teenager. Me and Connie would be doing 25 to life. lol

  2. Damoon
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 9:06 am | Permalink

    Aren’t the jails full enough without throwing in a bunch of sexually active teenagers?I agree that sometimes it would be appropriate to report, I’ve seen pregnant 12/13 yr olds and that’s just insane, someone needs to be held accountable in those situations.

  3. VC
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 9:46 am | Permalink

    Phil seriously needs to get laid and get a life of his own!

  4. Anon
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 11:28 am | Permalink

    Herr Kline just can’t stay out the public’s bedrooms (or the backseats as it may be in this case)

  5. s.otto
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 12:44 pm | Permalink

    Does this guy have any credentials? He was a disbarred attorney before he got elected and all he has done since he won is harass the abortion clinics and try to put them out of business. Religious fanatics are the only reason he won the election. Apparently abortion is all they care about and important legal matters are simply ignored.

  6. Jed
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 2:03 pm | Permalink

    VC,”Phil seriously needs to get laid and get a life of his own!”I agree that he’s probably hung up on everybody else’s sex life because he hasn’t got one, but are you willing to make the sacrifice and lay him? Would you wish that off on any possible partner? Maybe a dozen Depo-Provera-laced donuts placed on his desk every so often would solve the problem in a less disgusting manner.

  7. VC
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 2:41 pm | Permalink

    Jed – I hope I am never that desperate! ;0)

  8. Damoon
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 3:27 pm | Permalink

    Justa Guy, Don’t you know that gentlemen don’t **** and tell?

  9. JUSTA GUY
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 7:53 pm | Permalink

    Hey lets start a daisy chain and put Phil in the middle. lol

  10. Tara C
    Posted September 19, 2005 at 10:01 pm | Permalink

    Let’s see if I can remember how a 14 year old thinks…it’s been seven years so I might be a little off.

    “Hmm..I heard somewhere that I should get exams if I have sex. And if it burns when I pee. But, if I get an exam, my honey-bunny could get tossed into jail.”

    1. “I guess we can have sex and I’ll worry about that itchiness in a few years”2. “Oh! That means having sex is Wrong. Therefore, I’ll stop right now and wait til I’m married.”

    Which do you think is more likely? And no, I don’t think 14 year olds having sex is okay. It disturbs me, to say the very least. But do you think they’ll stop, or just keep it a secret?

    I think more comprehensive sex ed like birth control and stuff is a good idea…but I think we should further emphasize the emotional toll sex can take. How it can make you feel really bad to put out when you’re not ready, how it won’t help you keep a boyfriend, etc. As opposed to the scare tactic of “Abstain or you’ll get AIDS and die/get pregnant and have no future”. That might help kids hold off sex longer. But that’s for another blog, I’m sure.

  11. Damoon
    Posted September 20, 2005 at 7:52 am | Permalink

    Having a society where casual sex isn’t encouraged every time we turn on the TV and radio would also be a step in the right direction. Have you ever noticed that people who are protrayed having casual sex on TV never seem to have any negative consequences for their irresponsible behavior?

  12. Jed
    Posted September 20, 2005 at 10:27 am | Permalink

    Damoon,That’s because most of the people in real life have no negative consequences to casual sex. TV is there to reflect life, not to be a propaganda mill.

  13. Damoon
    Posted September 21, 2005 at 8:32 pm | Permalink

    Good one!

  14. rez
    Posted March 25, 2006 at 11:05 pm | Permalink

    Its all about smart sex. you can get aids at any age, dumbass. Anyone who isn’t a religious fanatic should know that

  15. fennoscandian
    Posted March 27, 2006 at 2:55 am | Permalink

    … one more reason why I’m bloody happy to live in Europe …

    There’s something utterly inhuman and impossible to comprehend in these religious fanatics’ ravings.