BOISE, Idaho – An Idaho law banning minors from receiving healthcare without parent approval has created a thorny new legal problem. If a child is raped by their parent, Idaho

Idaho State Police’s sexual assault nurse coordinator told Idaho Reports that the new law prevents law enforcement from administering rape kits to minors without parental permission.

SB 1329’s legal impact was evident in recently revamped healthcare statements issued by St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health, Terry Reilly Health Services and a cohort of other providers making it clear that minors will not be offered non-emergency care without parental permission.

Children were already not allowed to receive medical care without parental permission in the majority of cases before the passage of SB 1329 according to the American Medical Association, but exceptions for emergency and sexual healthcare are in place in several states including Washington.