By Kelly Patricia O’Meara
Citizens Commission on Human Rights International

New Mexico took a big step toward protecting children’s and parents’ rights when, last week, Governor Susana Martinez signed into law a bill ensuring that a parent’s decision not to administer psychotropic drugs to a child is not grounds for a child being removed from parental custody by Child Protective Services (CPS).

And the legislation goes deeper. House Bill 53, sponsored by State Rep. Nora Espinoza, also restricts school personnel from taking any action against the parent or compelling or requiring any student to take a psychotropic drug and, further, requires parental written consent prior to any psychological screening.

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) applauds these important safeguards for children. For too long parents’ rights have been subjugated by the mental health industry, and children wrongly labeled with mental disorders and drugged with dangerous mind-altering psychotropic drugs. It’s encouraging that New Mexico is taking its place among a growing list of states taking protective actions on behalf of children and parental rights.

Read the full article here.