A 12-year-old making adult medical decisions appears to be becoming normalized in California, according to a father who went on a rant after learning that the state allows minors significant autonomy over their healthcare.
In a TikTok video, the man detailed his frustration, explaining that he has been blocked from scheduling doctor’s appointments for his 12-year-old son because, under California law, the child must handle certain medical decisions himself. “I cannot explain how ridiculous the state of California is. My 12-year-old son needs to schedule an appointment himself to go see a doctor or a specialist. Because when you’re 12 in this state, apparently you can make your own medical decisions,” he said. He continued by explaining that he and the child’s other parents do not have access to his medical portal or prescription information. “We don’t have access to his account with scripts. He has to go in there and do everything. This state is absolutely insane,” he emphasized.
The father then reflected on when he first began questioning the state’s direction, recalling his time working as a janitor in 2017. He said he noticed Time Magazine was placed in classrooms, featuring “a man on the cover that was pregnant but was a woman with a beard,” which he claimed was being shown to children. “My state sucks. It’s gone looney,” he slammed, before conceding that the only redeeming quality left was the weather.
The video quickly gained traction, with commenters overwhelmingly echoing his frustration.
“Yes. Lawmakers are abusing children. It’s a brilliant move. They can’t own a gun, can’t drink, can’t smoke, can’t work, but somehow they can decide on their own to take prescription hormone blockers without their parents consent. Unbelievable,” one person wrote, pointing out what they saw as a contradiction in legal standards.
Another commenter added, “Taking away a parent’s ability to manage their 12-year-old child’s medical appointments while leaving them to foot the bill is sheer madness.” A third user compared the policy to another state, saying,“The age is 14 here in Washington State; it’s ridiculous. If I’m responsible for their medical bills, then I should have the right to know what’s going on in the doctor’s office.”
This netizen questioned the financial implications, asking,
“If he’s responsible for his son’s health insurance, how can they not share that information? I wonder if fraudulent billing wasn’t the motive behind such a terrible policy.”
Some viewed the issue as part of a broader agenda.“This is meant to seem innocuous, but in reality, it pushes the elite one step closer to their ultimate goal. Allowing minors to have consent over EVERY aspect of their lives,” one user claimed. Another echoed similar concerns, writing,
“All they want to do is exploit kids. No, seriously. What’s the end game of giving kids the ability to make life-altering decisions and excluding parents?”
Others focused on the child’s maturity level. “12-year-olds these days can’t even spell ‘doctor’s appointment,’ much less make decisions about one!” a user remarked. Some even urged the father to leave the state entirely. “Forget the weather. Freedom counts more than weather. Come to Texas,” this comment read. Another framed the situation in terms of government overreach, saying, “Remove all natural authority from parents over to the government. Tyranny.!!”
While the distraught father didn’t name the hospital, his experience no doubt raises questions about the safety of children.
