In discussing issues of health, racism, and morality as they pertain to Norplant, concerned parties may forget that they are not the ones who actually have the power over pregnancy. That power lies with the girl they are discussing. Another tendency is to lose sight of the fact that a student may want a child. Similarly, in the discussion revolving around racism and genocide, the focus easily shifts off of the girls. They must work within the framework of a student's previously established values.
Proper counseling keeps the focus of the issue on the women.
Counseling also prevents many potential problems associated with teenage use of Norplant. Introducing Norplant into an inner city school where students are predominately low income African-Americans immediately raises concerns about racism. By presenting Norplant to this community, critics feel that the government and school officials are pushing Norplant on a specific population, affirming a stereotype of the poor, urban, black woman who has babies and lives on welfare. The permanence of Norplant raises questions about control of fertility of inner city teens. Since Norplant can be perceived to target a selected population to prevent them from having children, criticism can go so far as to claim genocide.