In March 1996, a female doctor at J.T. Lambert Intermediate School in Pennsylvania performed physicals on a group of sixth grade girls that included an external inspection of the genitalia. Controversy has arisen in regard to the legality, manner, and appropriateness of these exams. It's been alleged that parents were not given an opportunity to give informed consent to the exams, and that force was inappropriately used to carry them out. Others have countered that these allegations are a hysterical overreaction to the legitimate duties of a health care professional.
Many girls
and their parents objected, and the police were asked to
investigate. The investigation was quickly concluded when it was
learned the exams were one portion of a state-mandated school
physical, and that it appeared that no laws had been broken. This
did not appease many parents, who continued to press the matter.
The school district has received a great deal of negative publicity, due in part to discussion about this controversy on the Internet. Some of the parents have filed lawsuits against the school district, opinion pieces (most critical of the school district) have been published in various newspapers, and the district has received a lot of phone calls from across the country, some said to be abusive. One lawsuit, Doe v. East Stroudsburg Area School District, is near its conclusion, with a judgement against the school district.
This site provides source material about this incident in the form of newspaper articles, news releases and opinion pieces, and links to other web sites that cover this subject. Please note that I include these materials regardless of viewpoint, and that I have attempted to include anything of substance that I could find, especially from local newspapers.
Trial news:
My own opinion:
Media coverage:
Press releases:
Other documents:
Read others' opinions or post your own:
Other web sites: Note: Any opinions expressed or actions advocated may, or may not, correspond to my own views.
Rick Adams -- http://www.winternet.com/~radams/ -- radams@winternet.com
