from The Christian Institute
Doctors should not be required to report sexual activity involving a child if they deem it ‘consensual’ — even if it involves an adult — the British Medical Association (BMA) has said.
In written evidence to MPs, the doctors’ union criticised proposals requiring doctors to report “any sexual activity” with a child under 13, or between an adult and someone under 16.
The Government’s flagship Crime and Policing Bill incorporates a new legal duty on professionals in England to report suspected child sex offences to the police or local authority.
Dissent
In evidence submitted to the Committee tasked with examining the Bill, the BMA stated: “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 2 years older) than themselves.”
The union claimed that the proposal “would prevent doctors from providing young people with confidential sexual health advice and contraceptive services”.
It also recommended that the Government exempt doctors from such a requirement, or permit them to use their discretion in reporting sexual activity where they believe “the relationship between the parties is consensual” and not “coercive”.