So, You Think You Can Legislate?

Jo, the useless navy wife from another blog, suggests/proposes two new mandatory requirements be made for the purchase of a CLIP (her clever acronym for a child life insurance policy):

1.  Mandatory signed agreement from both parents acknowledging the purchase of said CLIP!  Both parents have the right to know when one decides to insure a child. Yes, it could get ugly if the parents disagree, but then the CSP can be used instead.

a) A child is either in the primary custody of one parent (as determined by a court) or in the joint custody of both parents (as determined by marriage or some other agreement). If there is no marriage, and no court-ordered custody arrangement, both parents have equal rights and decision-making capabilities. Depending upon the custody situation, parents already have express rights to make certain choices for/regarding their children.

b) What is supposed to happen if one parent disagrees with the purchase of a life insurance policy? Does that parent have to show-cause? Does the parent have to prove that he or she is not simply acting out of spite? Will the issue have to be presented to a judge? Will the judge have the final say? Based on what factors? Is there ANY evidence that a policy like this would stop parents who were once well-intentioned from harming or killing their children? How much more of a burden will this put on an already strained family court system?

c) Life insurance policies are not inherently harmful, and they do not typically place children at any additional risk. Most children who have life insurance policies on them DO NOT disappear. There is NO INDICATION that the life insurance policy is a central factor in this case. Before anyone came up with this proposed "Ayla's Law" did they bother to check the statistics?

2.  Mandatory statement from the child’s physician stating no record of probable, suspected, or documented abuse has been noted in the child’s medical record!  Having managed prominent medical offices, I can safely say this is easily done. A brief statement of fact, provided by the child’s physician will do.

a) By your own standards, Trista would not even be able to obtain life insurance on her children. Probable and suspected abuse do not meet legal standards. I can suspect anything I want, but if I want to stop someone from doing something based on such a suspicion, there better be a preponderance of the evidence to back me up. Even if documented abuse has been noted in a child's medical record, does that render the child uninsurable for the duration of his or her life? What about cases of neglect? Emotional abuse? Verbal abuse? Sexual abuse?  Each of those things are notoriously unreported and difficult to substantiate.

b)While you can say this is easily done, the fact is that people doctor shop, and people will play the system. There is NO database of medical records that is accessible to doctors nationwide, and there is no central database of DHHS or CPS cases. So if I know I have abused my child and doctors in Florida have noted such abuse, what would stop me from going to another state or city to get a clean report? Nothing.

c) What if a  doctor disagrees with the purchase of a life insurance policy for a child, and simply refuses to give a statement? Can he or she be compelled to do so? In Texas, a doctor can disagree with a mother getting a 3D ultrasound (ultrasounds are not harmful). If the doctor refuses to sign a waiver allowing it, the mother is not supposed to get one. Just an example, but it goes to show that doctors can and do refuse to allow things because of their own personal beliefs--even if they have nothing to do with science or medicine.



In short, your proposed mandatory requirements are not well thought out, nor do they address any real problems. Without knowing how much of a role Ayla's insurance policy played in this case, all of this is premature anyway. Money talks and bullshit walks. If your suggestions will cost ANY agency or sector involved even one red cent, you can be prepared to meet opposition that will likely be insurmountable by someone like yourself (who clearly lacks formal education or intelligence). STOP USING AYLA'S NAME TO PROMOTE AND FURTHER YOUR OWN AGENDAS. You all are pissed off that the life insurance policy was sold to Justin by his friend, so all of these attacks on the insurance industry are ill-founded.

My best advice would be to contact an attorney or child advocacy group and see if this is the real issue that should be addressed. You guys are on the road to nowhere, and you're getting there quite fast!

I'm gone again, just had to weigh in on that stupidity! =)