The moral burden is placed upon the parent rather than the family- planning clinic. Without such rules, government ends up subverting the parent's role. Each year taxpayers subsidize thousands of family-planning clinics that provide medical treatment and moral counsel, yet balk at these meager attempts to inform parents of their involvement with their children. But parents are not only morally but legally responsible for their children and should be notified of birth- control drugs and devices dispensed to teenagers. But even more important than the question of authority is the question of morality.
Premarital sex is immoral.
Just because many teenagers engage in it does not make it right. Critics of the squeal rule believe government should be neutral. But in this situation an amoral stance is nothing more than an immoral stance. By seeking to be amoral, government provides a tacit endorsement of immorality. Secretly supplying contraceptives through government-subsidized clinics will not discourage premarital sex.