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Show Wed/Inurs/Frl, February 9-11,2005 The Park Record A-20 5 100 pancakes 'Parker Jensen bill advancing in House Bill would protect parents' right to choose health care options for children COURTESY OF KARA HENDRICKSON Fedteiioo EftlHaltve ^U • ; ^ . www.fathcrhood.org Kim Raymer (center), mother of third-grader Max Raymer, helps hold up a stack of 100 pancakes in Joe Demers' class at Jeremy Ranch Elementary School last week. The 100 pancakes made on Feb. 2 celebrated the 100th day of the school year. The days' activities also included reading 100 books, a probability lesson on flipping a coin 100 times, students drawing what they and the world would look like when they're 100, putting together 100-piece puzzles, 100 exercises, and - of course - eating pancakes. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) With no public comment, nor the usual throng of parents1 rights advocates, a bill to protect the health care decisions parents make for their children passed unanimously through a House committee Monday. Sponsored by Sen. Dave Thomas, R-South Weber, the bill allows parents to select health care options outside mainstream medicine, as long as they can prove the choices are informed. The so-called "Parker Jensen" bill would also prevent the Division of Child and Family Services from beginning a medical neglect case against parents when they refuse the care of a physician. The House Health and Human Services Committee passed the bill on a 6-0 vote, with some minor amendments. It now goes to the full House for consideration. The proposal cleared the Senate on a 25-0 vote last week. During a Senate committee hearing two weeks ago, parents' rights advocates packed the room to testify in favor of the measure, along with a seemingly healthy Parker Jensen and his parents. Jensen, now 14, was at the center of a custody battle in 2003 after his parents refused chemotherapy treatments for their son's cancer and were charged with kidnapping and medical neglect. Had Thomas' bill been law at Ihe time. Daren and Harbara Jensen would not likely have been charged, as they could have proved that they were making a "reasonable and informed" decision about their son's care. Daren Jensen has said the family was never allowed to show the juvenile courts the research they had done before electing an alternative treatment plan for Parker's illness. "'Hie idea was to make sure that all the options were on the table" Thomas said as he explained the bill to the House committee. "Obviously if you are seeking heart treatments from a dentist that is not going to be reasonable." The state can still take action against a family in medical neglect cases under the bill, although doctors will be protected from malpractice suits under the legislation. r Ihe bill raises the juvenile court standard for proving medical neglect to "clear and convincing evidence," which is the standard used in most juvenile court mailers. Thomas said. Photo reprints Did a Park Record photographer snap a picture of your child? You can have the picture reprinted on mugs, shirts, and many other items. Go to www.parkrecord.com and click on "Photo reprints." 24-MONTH CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT Home Savings B A N K Safe, Smart. Simple! DEPOSIT SERVICES • No-fee On-line Banking • Certificates of Deposit • Personal Money Market Accounts • Savings Accounts • IRA Accounts CHECKING SERVICES • Secure Advantage Checking • Business Checking •ATM's & VISA® Credit Cards LOAN SERVICES • Residential •Commercial MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 5#r«te'r i •Construction/Lot r our " " M \ THIS EXCUUSIVE OFFER /S GOOD AT OUR PARK CITY BRANCH we even surprise ourselves. 4580 North Silver Springs Drive 435.649.6035 www.home-savings-bank.com online banking Annual Percentage Yield is compounded daily. Interest Rate: 3.68%. A minimum deposit of $1,000 is required. Offer applies when a new checking account is opened at the Park City, Utah branch only, and is for new Certificate of Deposit accounts. This offer is only good at the Park City, Utah branch location. Rates are subject to change without notice. When most of us hear the word "lent/' we think of a banker. For Christians, it's a season of opportunities for greater self-awareness & amendment of life. &*- ^ The Season of Lent Begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 9th Two Opportunities for Worship St. Luke's Downtown Chapel A Brief 20-Minute Service Begins @ 12:10 PM * 525 Park Ave. St. Luke's Main Church Campus A Choral Service with Communion Begins @ 7:00 PM 4595 N. Silver Springs ^ ^ i Off Hwy 224 Behind Blue Roof Store ""**** & J. Brooks JEWELERS 180D26M747 THE GATEWAY 435-649-4900 www.stlukespc.org "' 157 S. Rio Grande, Sail Lake Cliy ; (801)456-4747 |