birth control pills given to her without parental consent, the chief medical officer said yesterday.

Dr. John Cann was referring to a investigation he made of claims by National Liberal Party spokesman Mr. Graeme Outerbridge last week.

Mr. Outerbridge voiced concern about a 17-year-old who became ill after taking birth control pills for nine months.

He claimed she received the pills from a doctor at the clinic without her parents' consent.

"I am very concerned about what the policy is over giving pills without parental consent,'' he said.

"I don't know if there is a grey legal area which needs tightening up -- but something obviously went wrong in this particular case.

"I would be very worried if parents have less control over their children than the state. The fundamental rights of the family should always be protected.'' But Dr. Cann said it was very difficult to look into the claim without an official complaint or more information from the parents or Mr. Outerbridge.

But his probe turned up nothing to question the clinic's procedures, policy or competence.

"In fact I can't find a doctor (in the private sector) who confirms any of this,'' he said.

Dr. Cann said birth control pills can be given to any female 16 years and older without parental consent.

But he said the clinic's emphasis is on getting adolescents to make a responsible choice.

And, he said, when the pill was administered, two-month check-ups were required. Persons who failed to show up for check-ups were not given any more pills.

Dr. Cann stressed that the clinic was staffed with "highly-trained, competent, and caring individuals'' who provided family planning, prenatal care, and screening for cervical cancer and other diseases to which women are susceptible.

He said the clinic strictly follows guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation and the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

"Our staff over the years have gained a great deal of experience working with teenagers and their parents,'' Dr. Cann said. "We go to great lengths to ensure there is communication between parents and young people.'' Medical officer in the women's clinic Dr. Cheryl Peek-Ball said she did not feel she nor co-workers needed to be defensive of the situation which had nothing to do with them.

But she said such unsubstantiated claims could have left a negative image on the clinic which would be difficult to rectify.

Dr. Peek-Ball said she considers the clinic a safety net when the family or communication between parent and adolescent has failed.

"My hope is that females under a certain age will abstain from premarital sex,'' said the mother of two daughters. "But that is not a reality.

"And while I know how parents can be upset when their child confides in a stranger rather than them, I don't see how tying the hands of the clinic will help the problem.

"We're bending over backward trying to meet the multiple needs of those who are not entirely independent of their parents, but have a right to confidentiality.

"But we're also here to help families, not weaken them.'' Both Dr. Cann and Dr. Peek-Ball agreed that while it is rare for a healthy female under 35 to become ill from birth control pills, mortality incidents among pregnant adolescents are much higher than among older women.

"Any competent physician knows what his ultimate goal is,'' Dr. Cann said, "and ours is to prevent that adolescent from becoming pregnant.'' But treating adolescents was easier when adults -- parents or relatives -- were there to help.

Dr. Cann said while the clinic had not received much feedback from the public on Mr. Outerbridge's claim, it could have had an adverse effect on young people who might have needed the clinic's assistance.

"It's distressing to me that the parents or Mr. Outerbridge did not come to us,'' he said. "We would like to think we listen to people and make every effort to correct an error, if it is made.''