North Carolina
Parental rights or patient privacy? NC bill would limit medical confidentiality for minors
By Rachel Crumpler and Grace Vitaglione
Patient-doctor dynamics in an exam room could soon change for minors.
Republican lawmakers in the state House of Representatives have introduced a bill seeking to limit confidentiality between minors and their health providers — and to grant parents greater access to their children’s medical records and decision-making.
Lead bill sponsor Rep. Jennifer Balkcom (R-Hendersonville) introduced House Bill 519 at the House Rules Committee on May 5, where it passed. Supporters say the bill, also known as the Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights, will help parents make informed decisions about their children’s health care and restore parental authority.
Over two dozen Republican lawmakers are co-sponsoring the bill, including three co-chairs of the House Health Committee: Reps. Larry Potts (R-Lexington), Donny Lambeth (R-Winston-Salem) and Donna White (R-Clayton).
Under the current state law, minors can independently consent to some medical care — for diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, substance use and mental health.
The bill would roll back the law to only allow minors to consent for treatment related to pregnancy, excluding abortion. Parental consent would be required for any other medical care or treatment, except in some limited scenarios outlined in the bill, such as in an emergency or if a medical provider believes a child could be experiencing parental abuse or neglect.
One exception would allow minors age 16 or older to access treatment for venereal disease without parental consent if the disease can be treated with a prescription duration of 10 days or less.
Becky Lew-Hobbs, a mother of three and chair of the Wake County chapter of Moms for Liberty, spoke in support of the bill at a House Judiciary meeting on April 29. She voiced her frustration with the current law, explaining that when she took her 14-year-old son to the emergency room for hurting himself, she was asked to leave the room so the doctor could ask him questions about his mental health and family alone.
“We as parents were treated as the enemy,” Lew-Hobbs said. “The doctor excluded us, preventing us from being part of the solution all because current North Carolina statute is used to exclude parents from their medical care.”
Bianca Allison, a pediatric primary care provider in the Triangle, said that confidentiality is the “cornerstone” of adolescent health care — it fosters open communication. And she added that confidentiality is not completely counter to parental rights — the goal isn’t to shut parents out. Instead, Allison said medical providers are often actively encouraging teens to involve their parents and help them work through why they may be hesitant to talk with them about their concerns.
Sometimes a health care provider is a more comfortable starting point to discuss sensitive topics, she said.
“Even as we provide that care confidentially to an adolescent, often we are having at the same time a conversation asking them, ‘Who is a trusted adult in your life who can help you navigate this situation? Can we help you have a conversation with your parents either here in the room or can I help give you a way to navigate that conversation outside of the exam room?’” Allison explained.
Change from decades-old law
When heard in committee, several doctors, including the president of the North Carolina Pediatric Society, quickly voiced opposition. They based their concerns on how the changes could worsen health outcomes for young people. They said teens would likely skip going to a provider in the first place if sensitive information, such as their sexual activity, will automatically be disclosed to a parent.
Erica Pettigrew, a family physician in the Triangle, explained to lawmakers that the conversations and questions she fields from teens won’t happen — or won’t be honest — if parents are in the exam room or have access to all communication. That will push teens to seek out information from unreliable sources such as TikTok instead, she said.
The state Department of Health and Human Services has also expressed opposition to this bill.
“The Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights would result in fewer children and youth seeking needed health care services, including mental health, substance use, services to treat sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention,” a DHHS spokesperson said in a statement to NC Health News.
Young people in North Carolina have had the ability to consent to these services since 1977.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the professional association of U.S. pediatricians, stated in an April 2024 position statement that confidentiality is an “essential component of high-quality health care for adolescents.” Other medical organizations support this stance.
However, state laws on consent and privacy for adolescents vary widely, according to a May 2022 analysis published in the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The analysis found that many do not reflect pediatric professionals’ standards of care.
A Planned Parenthood South Atlantic spokesperson said in a statement that, “This bill would mark a departure from historical and national trends around informed, medical consent for young people.”
Doctors, advocates push back
Allison worries about the risk of harm to youth in unsupportive environments if their parents were to have full access to medical records. Even though the number has dropped over the years, there are still tragedies within families. Of the 99 child homicides that took place in North Carolina in 2022, 31 of them were at the hands of a parent or caregiver, according to the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
“Removing confidentiality protections doesn’t necessarily, by default, foster open communication between parents and children,” Allison said. “Parents should still be attempting to build the skills and creating an environment where open conversations can happen, regardless of whether or not these confidential protections are in place.”
Erica, a mother of three in Moore County, including a transgender daughter, said she’s worried about the impact of taking away a trusted space for children to go.
“I’m a mom, so of course I want my children to be upfront and honest with me, and I try to facilitate an environment where they can talk to me about anything,” said Erica, who asked to only use her first name for privacy and safety concerns. “But some parents aren’t like that, and some kids aren’t like that, and they need to have an outlet to share. Otherwise it’s going to cause issues — physically and mentally.”
Allison emphasized that she and other medical providers don’t take lightly the responsibility that they might be the first to hear about sensitive topics during otherwise routine screenings with teenagers. Often those discussions are around sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual health.
“There’s a lot of benefits to confidential care in terms of open communication with physicians and the ability for a physician to potentially be seen as another trusted adult in this young person’s life, their ability to ask questions in an environment that is nonjudgmental, that doesn’t have the same implications of them potentially asking these things of their parents,” Allison said.
‘Undermine care’
Allison said this bill is part of the larger trend of state lawmakers seeking to dictate medical practice, particularly around controversial treatments.
In the last legislative session, lawmakers passed increased abortion restrictions over the objections of many doctors and several medical associations. The General Assembly also banned gender-affirming care for minors in North Carolina — except for those who had already started care before the law change.
“I just think that medical decisions should really be driven by best practices and the needs of individual patients — not politics and political ideology. As a provider, I just want my patients to know that they are seen, respected and safe,” Allison said. “Legislation like this can really threaten the sense of safety and undermine care for really everyone that we take care of — even if individuals aren’t necessarily coming in for more sensitive care and treatment right now.
“If and when it becomes relevant to them, they may fear.”
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Many Father’s Day events were held across western North Carolina, celebrating fathers, including at Highland Brewing, where a market was held.
Over 100 vendors applied to set up for the event on the longest day of the year.
ASHEVILLE GETS A BUZZ ON AT HIGHLAND BREWING AS HONEYFEST CELEBRATES POLLINATORS
Event coordinator Monica Maybille says it’s important to treat fathers to a little gift.
“It’s your dad. You gotta get stuff for your dad. They do a lot for you, so you got to treat them to a little treat sometimes,” Maybille said.
HIGHLAND BREWING HOSTS TRIBUTE PARTY HONORING LATE FOUNDER OSCAR WONG’S COMMUNITY IMPACT
The event included some dad-themed gifts, including grilling supplies and funny T-shirts.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The next market at Highland Brewing is planned for August and will focus on back-to-school.
North Carolina
Bill To Put Marijuana On The Ballot In North Carolina Unlikely To Advance, GOP Senate Leader Says – Marijuana Moment
“I’m not sure that we’re in a place where legalizing marijuana is going to be taken up.”
By Brandon Kingdollar, NC Newsline
A new bill proposed by North Carolina Senate Democrats would put constitutional amendments to legalize recreational and medical cannabis on the ballot. But its odds of getting a vote in the Senate are not high, Republican leadership says.
Senate Bill 1072 would put two separate amendments on the ballot in November, asking voters to legalize possession of “limited amounts of cannabis” for recreational use and medical use by patients with qualifying conditions, respectively.
“The people of North Carolina deserve a voice in determining the future of cannabis policy in our state,” said Sen. Kandie Smith (D-Edgecombe), one of the bill’s lead sponsors. “What it does is, it provides a pathway for North Carolinians to vote on whether limited personal possession and medical use should be permitted under our state’s constitution.”
Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) had a blunt response: “I’m not sure that we’re in a place where legalizing marijuana is going to be taken up,” he said Wednesday afternoon.
“I think there is some interest in looking at the hemp situation and the components of hemp and the sale of some of the derivatives,” Berger said. “It’s really undetermined whether we’re talking about a complete ban, or we’re talking about a regulatory scheme, or we’re talking about including these and not including those. There are just discussions that are taking place as to what we garner consensus over.”
One such proposal currently moving through the House would ban individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing hemp-derived consumables.
Berger has lent support to medical marijuana in the past. In 2024, the Senate passed a bill that would have legalized medical marijuana while restricting hemp-based consumables. The bill, which passed by a margin of 36-10, was championed by Senate Rules Chairman Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), a cancer survivor who said cannabis helped him withstand intensive chemotherapy for colon cancer.
However, the House declined to take up Rabon’s bill due to insufficient GOP support in that chamber. North Carolina remains one of only 10 states that have not yet approved medical marijuana.
In the absence of a medical cannabis program in North Carolina, many have turned to the state’s burgeoning hemp industry to meet what they describe as medical needs, such as alleviating pain, insomnia, and anxiety among other conditions. Many of those products, however, are set to disappear following much stricter federal restrictions on hemp-based consumables set to take effect in November.
The Meredith College Poll found in February 2025 that 71 percent of North Carolinians support the passage of a bill permitting medical marijuana, with 17 percent of respondents opposed. Polls by Elon University and progressive think tank Carolina Forward have also shown majorities in favor of recreational marijuana in recent years.
Sen. Caleb Theodros (D-Mecklenburg), another lead sponsor of S1072, said the bill would allow state law to catch up with public opinion on cannabis use.
“If the legislature cannot resolve this issue after years of debate, who should? I believe the answer is simple, and it’s the people of North Carolina,” Theodros said. “Senate Bill 1072 provides an opportunity for voters to have a direct voice on an issue that has remained unresolved for far too long.”
He said Berger has acknowledged momentum around cannabis legislation in the past year, an apparent reference to the Senate Leader’s past comments on medical cannabis. That makes him “cautiously optimistic” about the bill’s fate.
“We’re aware of the political climate in this building. But again, we didn’t get elected to just sit on our hands and say we’re in the superminority and therefore there’s nothing we could ever do,” Theodros said. “We’re just trying to move along our colleagues here and to join the rest of America and the rest of the planet in suggesting that we need to have some kind of policy on this.”
This story was first published by NC Newsline.
Photo courtesy of Philip Steffan.
North Carolina
Oklahoma a win away from national title after roughing up North Carolina ace in Game 1 of CWS finals
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — His team one win away from the national championship, Oklahoma coach Skip Johnson won’t mess with success.
The Sooners’ offense is producing at a level higher than any team to play in the College World Series since the event moved to Charles Schwab Field 15 years ago.
When it looked as though OU’s pitching could implode after being nothing short of magnificent the last week, Cord Rager settled in after a rocky first inning and combined with two relievers to shut down North Carolina the rest of the way in a 9-3 victory in Game 1 of the CWS finals Saturday.
“I’m just going to stay out of their way,” Johnson said. “I don’t know any other way to do it. You think we’re going to go out and hit tonight and take 100 groundballs somewhere? We’re not going to do that. I can promise you that. Just stay out of their way.”
Deiten Lachance homered twice off North Carolina ace Jason DeCaro early and the Sooners (42-22) used a four-run fourth inning to pull away for their ninth straight win. Rager, Gavyn Jones and LJ Mercurius allowed only two runners to reach second base after the Tar Heels (53-12-1) struck for three runs in the first.
Oklahoma won national titles in baseball in 1951 and 1994 and will go for its third on Sunday. North Carolina, looking for its first, will try to force a deciding Game 3 on Monday.
“North Carolina’s a really good team,” Johnson said, “and we picked a fight today. They’ll be ready for us tomorrow.”
OU ended DeCaro’s uncharacteristic bad day in the fourth inning. The Sooners scored all four runs that inning with two outs starting when Kyle Branch broke a 3-all tie with a two-run single. Branch came home on Jason Walk’s base hit and Camden Johnson singled off Walker McDuffie to make it 7-3.
DeCaro (11-3), who came in with a 2.31 ERA, was charged with all seven runs after having not allowed more than three in any of his previous starts.
“I think they just really punished the mistakes,” DeCaro said. “I feel like for the most part I made some pitches, and then whenever I did leave a ball over the plate, especially with two strikes, they capitalized.”
Lachance homered for a 2-0 lead in the first inning and again in the third to tie it at 3. The 6-foot-5, 231-pound Canadian known as “Big Maple” has hit all 18 of his homers in the last 32 games, including six in the last eight.
“I’m just trying to catch barrel at the plate right now and just help the team, just pass the baton,” Lachance said. “That’s a big thing for us.”
Oklahoma has hit 45 of its 93 home runs in the last 17 games. OU has connected 28 times in 11 NCAA Tournament games, and its 10 homers in four CWS games are the most by a team since the event moved to Charles Schwab Field in 2011. The Sooners are batting .331 and averaging better than eight runs per game in the CWS.
“Their approach is to get an ‘A’ swing off. That’s clear,” Carolina coach Scott Forbes said. “They’re not afraid to strike out.”
Rager (7-3), who threw 15 2/3 shutout innings over his previous three outings, steadied himself in the second inning and lasted through the fifth.
“After the first inning, I stopped playing for myself,” Rager said. “I just started playing for the guys around me, for the team. I really had to try to really be a pitcher today because I didn’t have my best stuff.”
Carolina’s Carter French made the defensive play of the CWS in the third when Walk sent a drive to deep right. As French went back to make the play, his glove got lodged under the padding running across the top of the fence. His glove was a bit crumpled as the ball landed in it. He held onto it and displayed it to the umpire.
“The great thing about baseball when you’re playing in a weekend series is you move on quickly,” Forbes said. “That’s what our team will do. They just beat us today.”
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This version corrects the spelling of Oklahoma pitcher Gavyn Jones’ first name.
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports
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