Parents and medical professionals are becoming concerned after learning that Florida is requiring a student-athlete registration form that stores the menstruation history of female athletes online—in a state where abortions after 15 weeks are illegal.
Both the annual physical form and its inquiries into menstruation are not brand-new. Female students in Florida have been asked a variety of questions throughout the past 20 years, including when they had their first period, how many weeks had gone since their last one, and other details. They presented these responses on written paper along with additional medical queries.
However, some families and physicians were disturbed when some Florida school districts switched the form to a digital third party called Aktivate this academic year.
There is a valid rationale for asking about menstrual history, according to Dr. Chris Koutures, a pediatrician who was a member of the group that created the national medical eligibility form, in an interview with Newsweek. A student's period's regularity serves as a barometer for their level of energy and bone health.
Even so, he insisted that the American Academy of Pediatrics only intended for certain medical staff to have access to and keep this information, not school systems.
There is a comprehensive discussion of privacy in a booklet that comes with the form, he said. It shouldn't be introduced to the school.
But the federal form is frequently modified by states and school districts. The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), which developed the form, told Newsweek that schools keep medical records in case a student gets sick or hurt.
In addition, Koutures admitted that the June Roe v. Wade decision had altered how families see these medical records.
"Obviously, since we put this up, the political environment has changed significantly. People may become quite anxious and with good reason when they don't comprehend the reasoning," he explained.
The Roe v. Wade decision changed the landscape for women and girls who keep menstruation records. Following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling by the Supreme Court, proponents of abortion asked women to erase their period-tracking apps and social media posts regarding their reproductive health.
When Nebraska police accused 41-year-old Jessica Burgess and her daughter Celeste Burgess of having an abortion, their worries came true in August. The mother allegedly bought and provided her daughter, who was 17 at the time, abortion pills.
Schools are required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to get consent from a parent or student before disclosing personally identifiable information. However, according to the law, "non-censual disclosures" may be made in order to abide by a subpoena.
A 15-week abortion ban was adopted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in April, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking-related pregnancies. Abortion providers are contesting the law.
Parents expressed concern when the School District of Palm Beach County stated it was shifting all of its health paperwork online. On August 17, they expressed their worries in front of the school board.
Parent Yvette Avila reportedly told the Palm Beach Post, "I feel you're pressuring parents into a contract with a third-party provider whose terms and procedures I do not agree with." "My child's private medical information is violated by your policies, and I do not agree or provide my agreement. You are compelled to renounce my children's parental rights."
Following this discussion, the district offered student-athlete families the chance to finish completing paper applications. All forms, whether digital or printed, are subpoena-worthy.
The School District of Palm Beach County's spokesman told Newsweek that although the menstruation question is optional, the district has lately asked to have it deleted. "The District will continue to explore additional options, including campaigning for amendments to this form and/or restricting the information provided to schools to only the physician's approval or disapproval of the student athlete's medical clearance," reads a statement from the district.
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