Several health professionals opposed a Howard public schools policy that would allow confidential information about a student?s pregnancy to be shared with principals and parents.
“Although surveys show that most adolescents will seek routine medical care with their parents? knowledge, making parental involvement or notification mandatory drastically affects adolescent decision-making and reduces the likelihood that teens will seek timely treatment,” said Dr. Maura Rossman, medical director for the Howard County Health Department, during a Howard County School Board meeting Thursday.
A teen struggling with pregnancy could be hesitant to share their concerns with parents because of “fear of embarrassment, disapproval or violence,” she said.
Dr. Evelyn Simpkins, an adolescent-medicine physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore City, said she asked five of her patients how many of them would want their parents involved if they found out they were pregnant.
“All of them said they would be scared, but they knew they would need their parents? help,” she said. “When I asked how many of them would want their schools involved, all of them said, ?No.? ”
Columbia resident Rosemary Mortimer, a registered nurse for more than 30 years, said the wording in the policy was problematic. The policy states: “When there is a risk to the student or others, information shared in confidence by students to staff will be divulged to principals, to others who by their training or licensure are able to provide immediate appropriate assistance, and to parents …”
“First, this policy demands that pregnancy be considered a risk. Since pregnancy usually lasts 10 calendar months, it does not seem to fit into the definition of an immediate danger to oneself or others akin to bringing a gun or knife to school or a suicide attempt,” she said.
However, some people at the meeting supported the policy.
“If there is information that would put a child at risk, parents have a right to know,” said Carolyn Hunt, a Columbia parent and grandparent.
The disputed portion of the policy is part of a larger effort to recognize teen parenting services.
A school board policy liaison committee will consider the comments and recommend if changes are necessary, said newly elected Board President Frank Aquino.
BY THE NUMBERS
In 2006, 103 babies were born to Howard County women between 15 and 19.
The Howard school system?s teen parenting program served 55 students in 2006-07.
Source: Howard County Health Department and Howard school system
