PT>
MSGID: 1:3642/803 000712e6
 MS>>     If so, do you consider even that an appropriate thing...?
PT>>Of course it's appropriate! How do you expect to check for hernias 
PT>>and developmental delays? Part of a physical *is* "turn your head 
PT>>and cough"; we all know that.
 KU>     The touchiness was largely because many people felt (quite
 KU> rightly IMHO) that it wasn't the school's business to do this in t
 KU> first place. 
PT>Well, who will pick up that splenomegaly before the kid dies on the 
PT>football field from a ruptured spleen?
	The kids PERSONAL Doc when he/she does the physical that can
be mandated by the school prior to taking place.  It can be done in the 
DOCTOR's office as opposed to the school, it can be done by a person the kid 
is familiar with and if the person doesn't want to do it, then there is no 
coercion to do it...you just don't play sports.
	Requiring physicals in these conditions prior to EXTRA-CIRRICULAR
activities is quite different from mandatory physicals under color of 
authority.
PT>Who will pick up that scoliosis before it becomes a crippling deformity
	Personal doc.
PT>Who will pick up on that testicular cancer which is so easily curable w
PT>caught early, and so deadly when found by the times there are symptoms 
PT>adolescent boy would notice?
	Personal doc (combined with testicular exam training in 
health or whereever.
PT>If the school doesn't require a physical prior to sports, who is to bla
PT>for that kid's ruptured spleen (and how many millions will the settleme
PT>be worth)?
PT>We do well-baby checks up until about 2 y/o, then we do another check 
PT>prior to kindergarten. Without the school physicals, pre-college admiss
PT>physicals, etc, how will we pick up those with correctable problems? I 
PT>realize that the Canadians are quite particular about what screening th
PT>consider worthwhile and that the Canadian Task Force demands clear and 
PT>substantial benefit before it agrees that a screening exam of any kind 
PT>acceptable, but in America we tend to think that even one undetected 
PT>testicular cancer is too many and are willing to screen thousands for 
PT>every one picked up.
	Right.  But the problems weren't with mandating these things.
The concerns were with the school taking the place of the parent and actually 
doing them in a coercive manner. Don't think anyone was considering saying 
schools could not mandate these be done. Rather, it was the schools decision 
to herd everyone into a room and do them.  I think the brouhaha would have 
been much less if the school's did them only for those with a specific okay. 
It was the no return will be implied consent concept (along with the genital 
assessment) that ticked people off. The arrogance of the school.
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 * PW * But she gives good headache!
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