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Scottish
Update Issue 3 - The newsletter of the Christian Institute (Scotland)
McConnell
blocks moves to give out morning after pill in schools
By Humphrey Dobson
Plans
for school nurses to give out the morning after pill to girls under-16
have been quashed by Jack McConnell.(1)
In a comprehensive U-turn, he condemned the scheme as 'stupid and
irresponsible'. The plans were set in motion last year when the
former Health Minister, Susan Deacon, expanded the role of school
nurses to include tackling sexual health.(2)
At the time, Christian organisations were quick to express serious
concern. Jack McConnell is now thought to be keen to avoid clashes
with family and Christian groups.
If the plan had not been stopped in its tracks, school nurses could
have given out the drug without the knowledge or consent of parents.
The morning after pill contains a powerful hormone and is taken
to prevent pregnancy in the 72-hour period following intercourse.
It is a form of abortion and there have been no studies on its long-term
effects on young girls. It gives the green light to sleeping around,
'underwriting under-age promiscuity'.(3)
1 Scottish Daily Mail, 26 June and
1 July 2002
2 Press Release SE0606/2001, Scottish Executive,
12 March 2001
3 Scottish Daily Mail, 26 June 2002
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