Bridgetown.
The Barbados Assocation of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) has expressed opposition to a suggestion by Minister of Health that teenagers from age16 should have the legal right to seek health care without their parents' consent.
President of BAMP, Dr Carlos Chase says such a move could have disastrous consequences, particularly as it relates to reproductive health care.
"Will we now have a free for all, with anyone taking underage girls to the doctor to get abortions and treatment for STDs without the parent's knowledge or consent? We are fixing a problem that does not exist, simply following what other nations are doing", Chase said.
"The considered legislation seeks to protect those who would harm children, allowing them to cover up their crimes, which is having sex with minors, while disempowering the parent, empowering the child, yet leaving the responsibility and subsequent adverse complication, with the parents. This is a remedy for the destruction of the family", he added.
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