Who's Choice?

Last night as I was watching television, a Gardasil commercial came on. Gardasil is the somewhat controversial HPV vaccine for females. Normally, I don't pay much attention to these frequent commercials, but last night was different. There are a couple of different formats for these commercials - this one was directed toward parents having their daughters vaccinated. So for the first time, I started to think about the decision Tara and I will have to make. And then I heard this line:

"You have the power to choose...ask your daughter's doctor about Gardasil."

Then, this morning, I read this on their website:

"You do everything you can for your daughter, and if she is still at the age where you're making her healthcare decisions, this section is for you. It's not too early to be thinking about a vaccine for cervical cancer for her.

"If your daughter is in her late teens or 20s, take a look around the rest of this site for information you can share with her."

Do you see it? Maybe I should give you some context. Several states have laws designed to protect the privacy of girls who want to have an abortion - even if they are under 18 and still live with their parents. Now do you see it?

On one hand, I am told by society that I am responsible for my daughter's health into her late teens. The implication is that if I don't have my daughter vaccinated, I am cuplable for not 'doing everything' I can for her. (I wonder how long it will be before we see a lawsuit between a young woman with HPV and her parents who didn't vaccinate her?) On the other hand, I am told by society that my daughter's privacy and independence trumps my decision-making! I don't even have a right to know if she chooses to have an abortion!

Let's paint the picture, shall we? Let's say I don't vaccinate my daughter, then as a 13-year-old girl, she gets pregnant and contracts HPV. So she can go and get an abortion without my approval or even awareness. But then she could hold me accountable for not vaccinating her against HPV. Does this make any sense?

Let me add that I agree with Gardasil's position of a parent having the responsibility and right to take care of his or her children. My problem is with those who say I don't have a right to be involved in my daughter's decision making - all of it - while she is under my watchcare. The laws that allow any girl to get an abortion without parental consent are illogical and unaccaptable.