Nowoczesna submits a draft of changes in regulations that will allow minors to visit a gynecologist, dermatologist or urologist on their own. What are the benefits of this?
– It cannot be that a person who, in accordance with Polish law, can start a sexual life, cannot go to a dermatologist, urologist or gynecologist without the consent of the parent – believes Monika Rosa, a deputy of Nowoczesna. The club wants the help of doctors of these specialties without the consent or assistance of their parents to be used by people over 15 years of age – informs “Health Policy”.
Contrary to appearances, the idea of Nowoczesna is nothing new. The Ombudsman has been fighting for a similar change for years. In his opinion, the provision allowing 15-16-year-olds to visit specialists on their own is only beneficial.
– It is a very good initiative. You have to respect the opinion of a young person who has his own personality and does not always want to be supervised by his parents (and he has the right to do so). I am a supporter of this idea. It is hard to expect that the doctor will make a decision that will be harmful to the health of the young person. It is important that a young man, a young girl, should come without fear to the gynecologist, even to talk about contraception. There can only be benefits from this. Many young women come with their mothers, but there are also some who come alone. I respect their choice – he says prof. dr hab. n. med. Jan Kotarski from the XNUMXst Department and Clinic of Gynecological Oncology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin.
Getting earlier, faster and faster
Hardly anyone realizes that as much as 60 percent. 15-year-old girls have already had their first initiation, in the case of boys this percentage reaches 70%. – Changing the regulations is a great solution, if only because of prevention and reliable sex education. Early sexual initiation increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, including HPV, and therefore cancer. Unfortunately, the current prophylaxis system, covering people aged 25-59, does not work. The effectiveness of the program is measured by mortality, which in Poland is still high. Therefore, the focus should be on prevention, not restorative medicine. We will not change the mentality of 50-60-year-olds, but young people have a chance to learn something and show how to protect themselves from diseases – he says prof. Mariusz Bidziński, head of the Gynecological Oncology Clinic of the Oncology Center – Institute of M Skłodowskiej – Curie in Warsaw.
– Requiring parent’s or guardian’s consent to provide health services – in practice – effectively discourages from using a doctor in general – he says Kamila Ferenc, lawyer from the Federation for Women and Family Planning, coordinator of the Federation’s Legal Team.
Zero education and pornography
We must finally understand that a gynecologist, urologist or dermatologist is a doctor like everyone else. The current law, which allows an independent visit to an internist, but not to another specialist, is ridiculous. – A teenager does not always tell her mother that she has, for example, vaginal discharge, because she does not always know what a vaginal discharge is (and her mother often has no idea either!). Basic medical knowledge in Poland and sexual education are at an embarrassingly low level. I have been dealing with it every day for years. The lower the education, the worse – adds prof. Bidziński.
According to Dr. Grzegorz Południewski, such direct contact with a doctor will make young people learn about sex from pornography. – If there was reliable sex education in Polish schools, young people would know that pornography is not transferred into normal life, and building relationships is important. You should also know that severe infections with venereal diseases at such a young age have a huge impact on the later health of these people – emphasizes Dr. Grzegorz Południewski, gynecologist and obstetrician.
Hot line
The problems of adolescents who enter adulthood and begin to explore the world of sex are well known to Ponton educators. It is to them – quite anonymously and without shame – young people address their questions, e.g. about the first time or contraception. PONTON educators, as they themselves admit, very often refer to a gynecologist in response to questions put to them. Unfortunately, few adolescents admit to their parents that they have sex and need medical advice. – In many homes, sex is still a taboo subject, there is no reliable sex education in schools. Young people are left alone with the problem and, what is worse, they do not realize that without treatment by a gynecologist, some problems cannot be solved – she emphasizes Joanna Skonieczna from the PONTON Sexual Educators Group.