Republican Gov. Brad Little of Idaho signed a bill Thursday increasing protections for parents when making medical decisions for their children. The passed the state
Senate with a 27 to 7 vote, with one abstaining, in February and the state House of Representatives in a 59 to 11 vote in March. The new , which will take effect on July 1, amends the current Idaho code to protect parents’ ability to obtain medical records for their children and requires healthcare professionals to obtain parental consent before administering treatment to their minor child, or face civil penalties. “Parents have the fundamental right and duty to make decisions concerning the furnishing of health care services to the minor child,” the bill reads. “Except as otherwise provided by court order, an individual shall not furnish a health care service or solicit to furnish a health care service to a minor child without obtaining the prior consent of the minor child’s parent.” US Vice President
Mike Pence (L) listens as Idaho Governor Brad Little (R-ID) speaks at the
White House in
Washington, DC, on July 16, 2020, during an event on Rolling Back Regulations to Help All Americans on the South Lawn at the White House on July 16, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) The law makes a limited exception if a doctor believes the procedure is necessary to “prevent death or imminent, irreparable physical injury to the minor child” or if the doctor has been unable to get a parent’s consent after making a “reasonably diligent effort” and the child’s health is at serious risk. Michelle King, president of LC Valley Youth Resource Center in Lewiston, opposed the legislation and warned lawmakers earlier this month it would put minors more at risk, to the
Moscow Pullman Daily News. “I don’t think we should pass any bills that would make it more difficult for people to access mental health care while we are in a suicide crisis with our youth,” King said. Jennifer Arzola, one of the supporters of the bill, argued during testimony on the bill that her child had been able to get on cross-sex hormones without her knowledge, according to the Moscow Pullman Daily News. A counselor her child had been seeing also had been “affirming her self-proclaimed gender identity without my knowledge,” Arzola said. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact .