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This Speakout has not been edited

By Mari Lynn Glidden, Aurora

Everytime I visit my posse of health care providers I am asked to sign a HIPAA disclosure to explain my rights to medical privacy and the office’s policy to respect that privacy. What does SB 080 provide with respect to my family’s medical privacy? SB 080 is the bill requiring parents to declare their daughters have been vaccinated to prevent HPV by age 12 in order to attend public school in Colorado. Although the bill allows for parents to opt out of the vaccine, the document the schools use to verify a child’s vaccination history suggests the vaccinations are mandatory. It is a government mandate for parents to vaccinate.

This bill is written in the spirit of protecting the daughters of Colorado from a disease that may lead to cervical cancer. The current preventative treatment for cervical cancer - early detection with PAP tests - is nearly 100% effective in treating cervical cancer. From a cost efficiency perspective the drug Gardasil made by the drug giant Merck does not eliminate the need for PAP tests. The vaccine only provides 70% protection against cervical cancer according to Dr. Emily Senay from her recent appearance on CBS The Early Show. If our legislators are trying to curb medical expenses, it appears to only be adding to the bottom line. The Center for Disease Control states cervical cancer is responsible for an average 150 cases and 40 deaths in Colorado annually. The use of this vaccine may not change those numbers. It may increase the numbers if women rely on the vaccine and forgo regular exams.

The sponsors of the bill are well-intended to educate the public of the options available to them, but at what expense. Literally - how much will this program cost? As recently as January 4, 2007, the Lt. Governor Norton and then incoming Lt. Governor O’Brien declared January Cervical Cancer Awareness Month as part of an initiative to educate Colorado women. They have launched a program that provides education and treatment for all women regardless of insured status or income levels. This is a perfect platform to accomplish what this bill is addressing without jeopardizing medical privacy, increasing regulation for our schools and adding burden to our state budget.

As a cancer survivor I am very aware of the benefits of Gardasil. But even with my history I am approaching this decision for my daughter with a great deal of thought. Other miracle drugs have been introduced in the past only to be quickly taken off the market due to side effects that weren’t evident in the testing phase. Gardasil is still experimental. A series of three shots are required but there is not enough evidence to know if a booster shot may be needed later. There are many reasons for a parent to opt out of this treatment. This is a personal decision and I do not wish to share my choice with anyone other than my family physician.

The legislature should be encouraging education, not mandating treatment. Merck is the big winner in this legislation. Merck should pay the bill for marketing their miracle drug.

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