Medical association claims doctors shouldn’t be required to report adults having sex with kids
In a stunning display of advocacy for extremism, the British Medical Association has claimed that doctors should not be forced to report to police when they discover an adult has been having sex, illegally, with a child.
The Telegraph reports that the BMA has “serious concerns” about the idea that doctors must report every case of underage sexual activities.
The plan is part of a new Crime and Policing Bill that would have physicians contact authorities if one of the partners is 18 or over, and the other is under 16.
“They would also have to report any case where at least one partner is under 13 years old,” the report said.
The BMA said that would result in doctors violating the confidentiality of their patients, and they then would lose the trust of minors.
Legally, children under 16 being sexually active with people at least two years older is statutory rape.
In a written submission to parliament, the BMA said it supports the idea of reporting child abuse but insisted on its own qualifications.
“We are strongly of the view that a doctor should only inform the police or social services of underage sexual activity where they have concerns that the young person is being abused,” the report said the physicians charged.
They continued, “It is common for young people under the age of 16 to be in consensual sexual relationships with people who are older (and frequently more than two years older) than themselves.”
They argued for permission for doctors to decide whether to report or not.
A government spokesman said, “We will be taking forward the new mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse for individuals in England undertaking activity with children – and crucially, a new criminal offence of obstructing an individual from making a report under that duty.”
The statement continued, “Mandatory reporting will create a culture of openness and honesty rather than cover-ups and secrecy. It will empower professionals and volunteers to take prompt, decisive action to report sexual abuse.”
The director of the Christian Institute, Ciaran Kelly, explained, “The BMA’s call for an exemption on reporting sexual activity between an adult and a child is highly irresponsible. The age of consent law exists because children under 16 are not capable of giving informed consent. It is reckless to act as if underage sex is normal and acceptable.”