Girls as young as TEN are being given the contraceptive implant - sparking fears it puts them at risk of 'horrendous abuse'
- Primary school age children among thousands of minors given implant
- The implants, never tested on under-18s, were given to 10 and 11-year-olds
- More than 50 12-year-olds and nearly 300 13-year-olds also given implant
- Almost 10,000 given the contraceptive before they reached age of consent
- 'Relaxed attitude' puts children at risk of 'horrendous abuse', says expert
Girls as young as 10 have been given the contraceptive implant, potentially exposing them to ‘horrendous abuse’.
The
primary school age children are among thousands of minors given the
slow-release contraceptive device since 2010 despite being far under the
age of consent.
The
implants, which have never been tested on under-18s, were given to at
least three 10-year-olds in the last five years, according to figures
obtained by MailOnline.
Girls as young as 10 have been given
the contraceptive implant, potentially exposing them to ‘horrendous
abuse’, an expert has warned (file picture)
East
Lancashire NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and
Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, in Liverpool, each gave the implant to a
10-year-old during the last five years.
Meanwhile
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, based in Torbay, gave the
contraceptive device to a 10 or 11-year-old, but would not specify
which.
During the last five years, at least 53 12-year-olds were given the implant, as well as a minimum of 281 13-year-olds.
More
than 3,000 14-year-olds and at least 6,300 girls aged 15 were also
given the device, which releases the hormone progesterone to prevent
pregnancy, inserted under the skin in their arms.
A
total of 61 NHS Trusts across England admitted they had fitted the
implants in minors after a series of Freedom of Information Act requests
by MailOnline.
The numbers are likely to be even higher, as dozens of Trusts did not or were unable to provide full figures.
Despite
the Nexplanon implants never being tested on children, there is a
strong possibility that hundreds of minors given the contraceptives had
them fitted without the knowledge of their parents.
Norman
Wells, from the Family Education Trust, said: ‘Fitting young girls with
contraceptive implants is quite simply indefensible. It is giving them
the green light to engage in illegal sexual activity and robbing them of
the protection that the age of consent law is intended to give.
‘This casual and relaxed attitude towards underage sex is exposing young people to the most horrendous abuse.
‘The
fact that the safety of these implants has not been established for
girls under the age of 18 in itself means that health professionals are
taking a massive risk with the immediate and long-term health of these
girls.
‘It
is deeply disturbing that parents are frequently left completely in the
dark and know nothing about the high-stakes gamble that is being taken
on the physical and emotional well-being of their daughters.
‘There
needs to be an urgent review of the policies of NHS Trusts in relation
to underage sex and the provision of contraception to children.’
The primary school age children are
among thousands of minors given the slow-release contraceptive device
since 2010 despite being far under the age of consent
According to the NHS website, the implants can cause headaches, acne, nausea and mood swings in adults using them.
Nexplanon manufacturers MSD said the contraceptive’s ‘efficacy’ had only been established in women aged between 18 and 40.
A
Department of Health spokesman said: ‘It is extremely rare that doctors
prescribe contraceptives to under-13s, and while we would not comment
on individual cases, the doctor is likely to be acting on serious
concerns about exploitation or abuse.
‘Guidance
from the GMC states that doctors must as a matter of routine share
information about sexual activity involving children under 13 with
police or social services.’
A
spokesperson for University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust said:
‘Only under extremely rare circumstances would a patient under the age
of 13 ever receive a contraceptive implant.
‘This
is never taken lightly and would be a decision made between a
healthcare professional and the parent or guardian as a result of health
problems or in order to safeguard the child.’
Vanessa
Hollings, from the family care division at East Lancashire Hospitals
NHS Trust, said: ‘We cannot comment on specific cases due to patient
confidentiality but any contraceptive implants are fitted in compliance
with national guidance on consent, competence and safeguarding.’
A
spokesman for South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:
'Contraceptive implants for girls under the age of consent are not
issued lightly. Serious consideration is given to each individual
situation including liaising with the patient themselves, the
Safeguarding Team and with the patient’s parents or guardians.
'Implants would only be used where it is in the girl’s best interests and where consent is given by the parents or guardians.'
“Contraceptive
implants for girls under the age of consent are not issued lightly.
Serious consideration is given to each individual situation including
liaising with the patient themselves, the Safeguarding Team and with the
patient’s parents or guardians. Implants would only be used where it is
in the girl’s best interests and where consent is given by the parents
or guardians.”
Alder
Hey Children’s NHS Trust said the implant may have been used for
medical reasons, such as when a child was suffering from heavy periods,
but otherwise they do not offer Nexplanon.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2860855/Girls-young-TEN-given-contraceptive-implant-sparking-fears-puts-risk-horrendous-abuse.html#ixzz3PFAisv5t
No comments:
Post a Comment