The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports Dr. Daniel Summers' Maine Compass column in the newspaper on Feb. 14 about the dangers of a legislative mandate that medical providers notify parents of sensitive types of medical treatment.

Without the protections in current law, most adolescents would not seek medical care for these illnesses and preventive care resulting in untreated mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, and an increase in teen pregnancy. Often, the confidential medical visit is a huge open door to providing education about a variety of adolescent high-risk behavior.

Some teenagers respond quite well with positive lifestyle changes when health risks and dangers are explained during a medical office visit. This information often is not as well received coming from their parents, and many families do not have the resources or capability to provide this education.

An opposing column on the same date expressed concern that current law essentially allows schools to hand out oral contraception to 11-year-old girls. This simply is not the case. I am not aware of any pediatrician in Maine who would agree to prescribe oral contraceptives to an 11-year-old girl without the consent of her parents, and extenuating circumstances would have to be present to prescribe oral contraceptives at this age -- even with parental consent.

Maine's law on minors' rights to health care treatment is in the best interest of all of our children.

Dr. Donald R. Burgess

President

American Academy of Pediatrics