He took her to a Title X funded clinic where she received periodic injections of Depo Provera. This not only minimized the risk of pregnancy, but also helped prevent the girl's parents or the child protective agencies from finding out about the abuse. Parents are legally responsible for the health care of their children and have a common-law right to consent to their treatment. When government claims a right to provide medical treatment to minors and keep it a secret from their parents, government is claiming too much power. It exposes young girls to exploitation, either by predatory criminals as in the Illinois case, or by creating an environment within a peer group in which girls are expected to be sexually available.
Parental awareness is a protective factor.
It drives a wedge between parents and children precisely at a point where parental involvement is most important. New research data overwhelmingly show that parent-teen communication is far more effective than contraceptive availability in preventing teen pregnancy. Under this amendment, parents would not be able to prevent their minor children from receiving services, but they would have an opportunity to advise them and help them make wise decisions. All information as to personal facts and circumstances obtained by the title X project staff about individuals receiving services must be held confidential and must not be disclosed without the individual's consent , except as may be necessary to provide services to the patient or as required by law, with appropriate safeguards for confidentiality. Low-income family also includes members of families whose annual family income exceeds this amount, but who, as determined by the title X project director, are unable, for good reasons, to pay for family planning services.