Earlier this week Governor Evers signed a bill into law that requires sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to have parental consent prior to using UV-emitting tanning equipment at commercial tanning facilities. Authors of the bill point out that UV radiation can cause skin cancer, immune system impairment, and premature aging of the skin, serious risks parents and adolescents should be aware of. Current law prohibits youth under sixteen from using tanning beds.
This law makes sense to me. Of course parents should be involved in matters related to their child’s health. What doesn’t make sense are healthcare laws that forbid healthcare providers from even informing parents if their child has seen a doctor related to reproductive issues. Parents have every right to be fully informed and involved when it comes to their child’s health.
