Sexual behavior of adolescents.

Unwanted pregnancy is a disease with consequences that affect every level of society. Illegitimacy is rising to the point where it is a major social problem. Findings of the National Center for Health Statistics show that in the 1940-1965 period illegitimacy tripled. More than 40% of unwed mothers are teenagers. It is clear that young people who approach doctors for assistance must be treated as individuals who are in a difficult time of life. When a young patient needs contraceptive assistance the doctor should not refuse merely because the patient is young or lacks parental consent. So far there has been no single instance of legal action against a doctor who gave contraceptive assistance where parental consent was lacking.