Abortion supporters like Cindy Richards (two Chicago Sun-Times articles in the last three weeks – 1/24/07 and 2/14/07) are appalled that the government of Illinois might actually require parents to be notified before their teenage daughters can get abortions.  Such a requirement might interfere with a young girl’s right to get an abortion without telling her parents. 

The hidden implication is that such a girl has adequate judgment, even at a young age, to make her own decision whether or not to inform her parents.  Of course, she will make this decision under the advisement of her doctor, and the government cannot interfere with that doctor / patient relationship.  Just ignore the fact that she will see the doctor for the first time when he begins the abortion procedure.

The fact that the government does not think she has enough judgment to obtain any other medical procedure without parental consent should also be ignored.  Is anyone advocating that if a teen wants to get her ears pierced, breast implants, or a sex change operation, she should have the right to do so without the knowledge of her parents?   Apparently, the providers of those services do not have the lobbying skills of abortion providers.  Maybe they need to hook up with Planned Parenthood and the ACLU so they can do a better job of demanding these rights for teenagers as well.

In contrast, when it comes to the HPV vaccine called Gardasil, not only should parents be informed that it is available, the vaccination of their 11 and 12 year-old daughters should be mandated.  Why are the same organizations and legislators who push abortion rights pushing this mandate?  What about the judgment of the teenage girl on whether she wants to be vaccinated?  Where is the concern about preventing government from interfering in the doctor / patient relationship?  

Lee Newcom sees a connection.   He noted, “A large drug company (is) using the state to mandate purchase of it's very expensive product just to protect itself financially and to hell with my family and my daughters.  …  Now lets see, Senator Jones, Senator Halvorson and Rep. Jakobsson are Democrats, and they are supposed to be the ones to protect the little people from the big evil drug and oil companies right?  It will be very interesting to track the campaign donations on this one.”

Other sources reveal that Merck has put their money behind this nationwide push for an HPV vaccine mandate.  Just forget all this inconsistency about rights and regulations.   Parents are always in the way and should have no say.  Campaign contributors with deep pockets (e.g. abortionists and drug companies) should always get their way. 

I guess there is no double standard after all.  It justs looks that way on the surface.  The providers of abortions and the HPV vaccine are both doing everything they can to make more money by removing obstacles to their sales.  One offers protection before sexual activity and the other offers protection after sexual activity.  Its something like a symbiotic relationship.