Alicia at Fructus Ventris links to a sad story of a boy who died of brain infection that spread from a toothache. The toothache went untreated because, when he showed up for the root canal, he was an unaccompanied minor. She makes a point that I otherwise would have missed:
The minor child is this story essentially died because he did not get an urgent surgical procedure because he did not have a parent present. No one thought it important to take him across state lines to a state with more lenient laws on parental consent. No one thought that he needed an attorney or a judge to protect his right to have this (in this case) life-saving procedure performed. The legal requirement for parental consent (and payment?) was met. And due to the delay, a relatively minor condition festered until it became fatal.
Do you suppose people will be clamoring for the repeal of laws requiring parental consent for dental work?
bearing blog 