Tennessee Bill That Would Have Undermined Recent Protections Against Mature Minors Doctrine Stalled In Senate

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The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –

This week, a caption bill that would have undermined the protections for children against a legal doctrine called “The Mature Minors Doctrine”, was stalled in the Tennessee state senate.

The Mature Minors doctrine is a legal doctrine that can be used when a physician chooses to treat an underage patient without the informed consent of a parent or guardian. It has been an issue of concern for Tennesseans in recent years. 

Last year a bill, The Clarification Act, that protects children from being vaccinated without the informed consent of a parent was passed by the Tennessee General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee.

The caption bill introduced this session that would have worked to undermine “The Clarification Act” has a summary unrelated to its intent –

Caption Bill HB2902/SB2176 states, “Health Care – As introduced, removes from code an outdated requirement that the polysomnography professional standards committee hold at least one public meeting each year during the years 2007 through 2010 to allow public discussion of new developments in the practice of polysomnography. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 14; Title 49 and Title 63.”

The bill is being carried by Representative Dr. Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar (R-D66-Springfield) and Senator Joey Hensley (R-D28-Hohenwald).

Yesterday, the Senate sponsor, Senator Joey Hensley, moved the bill back to calendar, and as long as it stays there, and is not put back on notice by Senator Hensley, the bill will effectively be dead. 

This action comes as good news for those who had concerns that the bill would undo all the protections that were put in place by The Clarification Act. The bill’s passage would have allowed for consent for treatment to be given to someone other than the parent, and additionally, changing the definition of “Informed consent” . 

The bill’s amendment defines informed consent as simply written consent, either on paper or electronic transmission, from “a parent or legal guardian of a minor to the vaccination of the minor or for all future vaccinations of the minor recommended by the minor’s healthcare provider”. 

This definition strays from what is traditionally understood to be informed consent, in that one would be informed of the possible side effects or dangers in a medical treatment and can then either give consent or not. 

This also effectively allays any plans the Department of Children’s services may have had to restart medical treatments of children in their care which they were forced to stop when the Clarification Act was signed into law in July of last year. 

Critics of the legislation suspect that the heaviest influence for the creation of the bill was the DCS pressuring members of the General Assembly until they amend the new law and are able to reassert their control over the several thousand children in their care. 

For at least this session, the attempt to pass such an endeavor seemingly has failed. 

We will continue to watch the bill until this year’s legislative session comes to a close and report any substantial developments. 

About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member.  Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.