BOISE, Idaho – An Idaho law banning minors from receiving healthcare without parent approval has created a thorny new legal problem. If a child is raped by their parent, Idaho

Idaho State Police’s sexual assault nurse coordinator told Idaho Reports that the new law prevents law enforcement from administering rape kits to minors without parental permission.

SB 1329’s legal impact was evident in recently revamped healthcare statements issued by St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health, Terry Reilly Health Services and a cohort of other providers making it clear that minors will not be offered non-emergency care without parental permission.

Children were already not allowed to receive medical care without parental permission in the majority of cases before the passage of SB 1329 according to the American Medical Association, but exceptions for emergency and sexual healthcare are in place in several states including Washington.

  • Chozo@fedia.io
    34·
    3 months ago

    Fucking sickening. As if parents are never the abusers. Someone ought to find the names and faces of everyone who pushed this bill forward and plaster them on billboards all across Idaho with the tagline “Defenders of Incest”.

    From the text of the bill:

    (4) Subsection (3) of this section shall not apply, and a health care provider may authorize or furnish a health care service without obtaining the informed consent of the minor child’s parent, if: (a) A parent of the minor child has given blanket consent authorizing the health care provider to furnish the health care service; or (b) The health care provider reasonably determines that a medical emergency exists and: (i) Furnishing the health care service is necessary in order to prevent death or imminent, irreparable physical injury to the minor child; or (ii) After a reasonably diligent effort, the health care provider cannot locate or contact a parent of the minor child and the minor child’s life or health would be seriously endangered by further delay in the furnishing of health care services.

    I fail to see how a sexually-assaulted child doesn’t qualify as a medical emergency, or how providing care wouldn’t be considered “preventing imminent, irreparable physical injury”. What the fuck is wrong with you, Idaho? Who do you think you are? Texas?