NT: Mandatory child sex reporting could result in pregnancies
06 May 2009 4:31 PM
A peak doctors group says laws requiring Northern Territory GPs to report all sexual activity by children could result in more teenage pregnancies and increased sexually transmitted diseases.
Changes to the Care and Protection of Children Act have made it mandatory for all people .. including doctors .. to report teenagers under 16 who are sexually active.
It's part of the Labor government's response to reports of widespread sexual activity by minors in remote Aboriginal communities.
But many fear it'll have the opposite effect to what the government has intended .. with a GPs group saying it could lead to young people losing their trust in medical services.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says the new laws interfere with a GP's role to offer comprehensive .. continuing and timely support to teenagers.
