Parental Consent for Tanning

[Coito ergo sum]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/5 ... s.html.csp

Minors who want to go to tanning salons would have to get parental permission on each visit under a bill passed Wednesday by the Utah Senate.

Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, said parents have a responsibility to learn about the risks posed by the ultraviolet light from tanning beds, which she warned is a known carcinogen and 15 times more dangerous than midday sunlight.

LOL -- we have a right to do whatever we want with our own bodies!

Sometimes teenagers may find it difficult to talk to their parents about these things...

[Drewish]

I support this legislation.

[MrJonno]

Its illegal in Scotland and against the 'code of conduct' for those under 16 in England to use a tanning machine

[klr]

Seeing as you can't sell/serve alcohol or tobacco to minors, it stands to reason (IMHO) that you should not be allowed to sell them a service which is inherently quite dangerous.

[eXcommunicate]

Seeing as you can't sell/serve alcohol or tobacco to minors, it stands to reason (IMHO) that you should not be allowed to sell them a service which is inherently quite dangerous.

It's difficult to square this legislation with the notion that minors should not need their parent's consent to have an abortion or other procedures (I think that's what Coito is not so subtly hinting at). I'd probably just go with a halfway compromise and require parent's permission to initially sign up for tanning service, rather than parent's permission for every single tanning session, which feels like over-kill to me.

[hadespussercats]

Will the kids need permission slips to lie in the sun?

[Trinity]

If parents brought up their children to value themselves intrinsically, to feel real, to be authentic, then there would be no need for tanning salons as kids wouldn't be totally consumed by how beautiful they have to look. I know at that age there is the attracting the opposite/same sex thing going on but we could be like other cultures and our kids could paint their faces or wear raffia skirts or dance topless round a fire or tattoo their forehead or wear plates in their mouths.......

[eXcommunicate]

I know at that age there is the attracting the opposite/same sex thing going on...

I still have this thing going on. Must be something wrong with me.

[hadespussercats]

I know at that age there is the attracting the opposite/same sex thing going on...

I still have this thing going on. Must be something wrong with me.

Nah-- you just need to cut back on all the tanning!

[Seth]

I support this legislation.

Do you support parental notification and consent for a minor to get an abortion or birth control products?

If not, why not? What's the difference between the dangers of tanning and the dangers of an abortion or STD's?

[eXcommunicate]

I support this legislation.

Do you support parental notification and consent for a minor to get an abortion or birth control products?

If not, why not? What's the difference between the dangers of tanning and the dangers of an abortion or STD's?

As far as condoms go, I don't think there can be any reasonable expectation of parental notification, but with things like prescription drugs or invasive procedures like abortion, I think there should be parental notification. Maybe I just say that because I'm a parent and I would approach these issues with a level of open-mindedness, so my child would reasonably expect a level of trust, decorum, and understanding, and would have nothing to fear. To be consistent, there would need to be some kind of parental notification, if not consent to most of these things.

However, the difference between the "dangers of abortion and STDs" and the "danger of tanning" is a real one conceptually, as "tanning" is a potentially hazardous behavior the child is subjecting themselves to for cosmetic benefit, while getting an abortion or getting treated for an STD is the child rectifying something that has already happened.

[Pappa]

I support this legislation.

Do you support parental notification and consent for a minor to get an abortion or birth control products?

If not, why not? What's the difference between the dangers of tanning and the dangers of an abortion or STD's?

I think there is a significant difference. A parent refusing to allow their child access to an abortion or contraception could potentially be putting their child at greater risk (or greater risk of detriment to their life) than if the minor had access to these without their parents' knowledge. Tanning has no significant benefits to the individual, while abortion and contraception have clear benefits to some, benefits that often outweigh the risks.

I think your point about STDs is a red herring too... educating people about the risks from STDs is a separate issue and something which should happen regardless of whether they have access to contraception and/or abortion.

[klr]

Will the kids need permission slips to lie in the sun?

No one pays the sun, that's the difference. By and large, there are no laws that prevent people from doing something downright stupid as long as no-one else is actively involved.

[Svartalf]

Will the kids need permission slips to lie in the sun?

Have you compared the UV doses you get from a tanning bed with those gotten from the natural sun?

[MrJonno]

I support this legislation.

Do you support parental notification and consent for a minor to get an abortion or birth control products?

If not, why not? What's the difference between the dangers of tanning and the dangers of an abortion or STD's?

I think there is a significant difference. A parent refusing to allow their child access to an abortion or contraception could potentially be putting their child at greater risk (or greater risk of detriment to their life) than if the minor had access to these without their parents' knowledge. Tanning has no significant benefits to the individual, while abortion and contraception have clear benefits to some, benefits that often outweigh the risks.

I think your point about STDs is a red herring too... educating people about the risks from STDs is a separate issue and something which should happen regardless of whether they have access to contraception and/or abortion.

Doctors in the UK are bar law required to encourage the minor (the term child really is not appropiate) to talk to their parents in regard to abortion or contraception however if they believe they are competent to give informed consent they can go ahead anyway with abortion or contraceptives as the consequences of them not granting it could be extremely serious.

The consequence for not getting access to a tanning machine is well no tan