ACHAMP resorts to calling health legislation the “California Pedophile Protection Act of 2011”

ACHAMP, now the “Autism Action Network”, wants Californians to lobby against Assembly Bill 499. Why? Because it would allow minors access to the vaccine against HPV (human papillomavirus) without parental consent.

I have yet to hear a good explanation why supposedly autism organizations have such a fixation on the HPV vaccine. Seriously, has anyone made the claim that vaccines given to 12 year olds cause autism?

Here’s what ACHAMP has to say about this law:

If a twelve-year old child requests a vaccines for a sexually transmitted disease, what conclusion could a rational person come to other than a sexual crime has either occurred or will occur in the near future, which is exactly the standard required by California law for mandated reporters. How can a physician or nurse give a vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease, or other professionals counsel a child on getting such a vaccine, without the child’s parents’ involvement, and obey the mandated reporter laws? We don’t know either, which is why we consider this bill to the California Pedophile Protection Act of 2011.

The “California Pedophile Protection Act of 2011”?!? Wow, ACHAMP. Besides the fact that the logic is completely off, what’s the need for this language?

Here is the text of AB 499

FEBRUARY 15, 2011

An act to amend Section 6926 of the Family Code, relating to minors.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 499, as introduced, Atkins. Minors: medical care: consent.

Existing law allows minors to consent to specified forms of medical or dental treatment.

This bill would, in addition, allow a minor who is 12 years of age or older to consent to medical care related to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Section 6926 of the Family Code is amended to read:
6926. (a) A minor who is 12 years of age or older and who may have come into contact with an infectious, contagious, or communicable disease may consent to medical care related to the diagnosis or treatment of the disease, if the disease or condition is one that is required by law or regulation adopted pursuant to law to be reported to the local health officer, or is a related sexually transmitted disease, as may be determined by the State Director of Health Services Public Health Officer
.
(b) A minor who is 12 years of age or older may consent to medical care related to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease.

(b)
(c) The minor’s parents or guardian are not liable for payment for medical care provided pursuant to this section.

As stated, this modifies California Family Code Section 6926

(a) A minor who is 12 years of age or older and who may have come into contact with an infectious, contagious, or communicable disease may consent to medical care related to the diagnosis or treatment of the disease, if the disease or condition is one that is required by law or regulation adopted pursuant to law to be reported to the local health officer, or is a related sexually transmitted disease, as may be determined by the State Director of Health Services.
(b) The minor’s parents or guardian are not liable for payment for medical care provided pursuant to this section.

Aside from the blatant fear mongering and inflammatory language, ACHAMP is wrong on many counts. California already allows for minors to be treated without parent consent for sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, abortion, HIV testing and birth control.

Yes, California minors can seek treatment for STD’s, but if we try to amend the law to allow for prevention, it is a “pedophile protection act”.

I wonder how many members of ACHAMP waited until age 18 before participating in sexual activity with their peers? Or, do they allow former pedophiles (by their own definition) into their ranks? (see how your twisted logic works, ACHAMP?)

I’d like to say I’m surprised by ACHAMP. Unfortunately, I’m not. I do have hopes that someday these groups will abandon the cheap shots, inflammatory language and fear mongering. Heck, I have hope that they might focus the majority of their attention on making a better life for autistics.