Tom Coburn: “I find myself in a peculiar position as a physician, and also as a scientist. I am very much interested in accurate data…”

“I find myself in a peculiar position as a physician, and also as a scientist. I am very much interested in accurate data collection, and I think it is imperative that we have that. I also am very much concerned about the lack of parenting in our country, and what has come about through that lack of parenting. My worry, and I rise to support the Souder amendment, because I think, No. 1, it does put some burden back on parents which we have been trying, through many of the bills that we have passed in the last weeks, to force more direction on parenting, and I think we should do that. But I also have a greater problem with the arguments that are used against this. I guess, No. 1, is scientifically I do not buy the fact that if we have a parent's permission we are going to, No. 1, make the cost too great or, No. 2, make the scientific data to where it is not accurate. That is spurious logic. Because we do that all the time in the medical field in terms of informed consent on testing, on data and on information.”