I have a question about kids and medical care, spurred by this week's House, but related to questions raised, I think, by Jack & Bobby earlier. How old is old enough? It seems kinda weird that a doctor can say to a twelve year old "You need an abortion." and she gets to consent without informing anyone. Does she need an abortion? Is she going to insist on a second opinion? Okay, I'm not saying that 12 year olds should be mothers -- but that's not the point. How must is must? If that recommendation had been presented to an adult, I'd think there'd be more discussion, not just "Oh, okay."

ita, imitrex can cause lightheadedness so maybe you had a lot of meds floating around in your bloodstream. Losing consciousness like that happened to me with combining Imitrex and benadryl once. Scary.

msbelle, you need to start imitating that really annoying credit card commercial with the scrawny guy who used to be on SNL years ago.

Tom, I didn't read your post until this morning. You can do this scary therapy work. You CAN. It's clear that you recognize that the coping mechanisms that worked for you when you were younger aren't working anymore -- in part, because you don't need them.

The fact that you recognize that tells me that you can do the rest, no matter how hard and scary and shitty it is. I won't lie to you; in the middle of it, in the middle of having to process feelings that are decades old -- feelings no kid should ever have had to experience -- it really sucks. It does.

I don't say that to put you off it -- just to give you fair warning. The flip side of it is that, once you're through it (or even some of it; it's not really linear), you have this -- I don't really know how to explain it adequately -- your life is *yours* again. You aren't under the spectre of shit from the past, you aren't reacting in the present based on situations from the past -- your perspective is yours, just yours, and not filtered through distorting lenses that other people installed.

You can do this. You really, really can.

You know you can e-mail me if you ever want to talk more about this backchannel, instead of disturbing the Atkins-cats-gerunds flow of Natter, right? Please do.

Atkins-cats-gerunds flow of Natter, right?

In the wild, all cats are on Atkins.

Well, I'm sad -- it looks like no more Eyes.

Meep, ita. I'm glad you are going to call the Dr.

Condolences to your family, sara.

Have I mentioned I hate not being able to read the board at work, where I need to go right about now?

eta:

You know you can e-mail me if you ever want to talk more about this backchannel, instead of disturbing the Atkins-cats-gerunds flow of Natter, right? Please do.

What Tep said.

Perkins, I think from that we can conclude that your job, much like you, SUCKS....

Well, I'm sad -- it looks like no more Eyes.

Bugger. I just finished catching up last night. I hope they at least air the rest.

ita, that's a much debated question in the legal literature. my boss writes about it a lot, and the question seems to be debated in public most often over the question of terminally ill minors who want to make their own treatment decisions. Not so much talk in public with the medical procedure you whitefonted.