State shouldn't ask for medical records

Earlier this week, a Marion County judge ruled Planned Parenthood of Indiana to hand over 84 medical records of juvenile patients. The judgment came after Medicaid argued Planned Parenthood was aiding underage children in sexual activity and failing to report child molestation abuse. Indiana considers anyone who is engaging in sexual activity and younger than 14 to be a victim of child molestation. \nWhile we understand that child molestation is something that shouldn't be taken lightly, we feel medical records are between medical providers and patients. These minors go to Planned Parenthood to seek help while trying to be responsible for their actions. If the state has access to these records, these minors may stray from safe sexual practices. \nAbstinence is the only way to avoid getting pregnant or contracting a sexually transmitted infection. But the reality is that abstinence is not commonly practiced. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy reports that four to five percent of 12-year-olds have had sex, 10 percent of 13-year-olds have been sexually active and 18-19 percent have engaged in sexual intercourse by the of age 14. Further, at age 14, 14-20 percent of girls and 20-22 percent of boys have had sexual experiences.\nWhile the state is serving a noble cause in trying to protect minors from molestation, they're failing to acknowledge the growing trend of sexual activity among our youth. Instead of demanding medical records and invading the sacred confidentiality between doctors and patients, the state should implement outreach programs to educate minors as young as elementary students about the dangers of being sexually active at a young age. Explicitly explaining the difference between molestation and sexual activity with a significant other could help these minors report these incidents on their own instead of obtaining personal records from clinics. \nMany of these patients seeking advice and medical assistance from Planned Parenthood are intimidated by the situation and releasing the records may further their reluctance to get help. The youth seeking help should be applauded for their efforts of trying to be responsible with their bodies and their actions. \nThe doctors, nurses and counselors at Planned Parenthood are trained professionals. Their abilities to serve any age group should not be doubted. These professionals can decipher between a victim of molestation and a minor seeking medical assistance. \nPlanned Parenthood serves five million men, women and adolescents each year and we feel it would be a tragedy if countless people lost their trust with the clinic. Demanding Planned Parenthood to release these records could set a dangerous precedent for those who wish to keep confidentiality within a doctor's office.