Clinics need limits

A school-based health clinic may be in the future for Spokane (“A healthy upgrade,” Sept. 26). Yes, there are a lot of health care needs for kids. But before we get too excited, let’s remember what happened in Seattle last March. The clinic at Ballard High School, possibly with the help of some school personnel, sent a 15-year-old girl to Swedish Medical Center for an abortion.

Her parents were never notified and had never signed a consent notice for any type of invasive procedures to be performed on their daughter. The consent form for treatment that the parents signed said absolutely nothing about abortions or other similar types of procedures. According to ABC News, Washington state law says, “Minors may receive an abortion and abortion-related services at any age without the consent of a parent, guardian or the father of the child.”

So, once again, we will have other people making significant decisions about our children with no input from us. I’m all in favor of clinics being able to care for the various needs described in the S-R article. But we need to build in sufficient checks to avoid another tragedy like the one in Seattle.

Donald F. Calbreath

Spokane