Now that tanning beds have been confirmed to cause skin cancer, of course you could expect some legislation to addressee indoor tanning. Delaware has now decided to step up and addressee the issue.
Last Thursday, Delaware passed a law that is banning tanning bed use for anyone under 14, and requiring anyone between 14 and 18 to have signed consent from a parent or guardian. The consent form would have to renewed annually and would include on it all the risks associated with indoor tanning.
The law is being called “Michelle’s Law” and is named for the case of Michelle Rigney. Miss Rigney was a University of Delaware student who contracted melanoma at the age of 19 and died from it last year at the age of 22. Michelle believed that it was her use of tanning beds that directly led to her contracting melanoma. Her years between 19 and 22 were dedicated to raising awareness of these issues, and this law being named after her seems to be a good lasting tribute.
“Today we ensure that what Michelle Rigney worked so hard during her far too few days to achieve, and what her parents worked so hard in her name to continue, will become part of our law and part of her legacy,” Delaware Governor Jack Markell said as he signed the bill.
Despite the attempted damage control of the Indoor Tanning Association, people are now beginning to lash back at the tanning salons. Delaware is just the first state, but I highly doubt that it will be the last. The laws seem to be similar, although not as harsh, as the laws we have pertaining to cigarette and nicotine use.
Sen. Bethany Hall-Long, D-Middletown, the bill’s primary Senate sponsor, said that it is important to get young people and their parents clear information on the risks of tanning.
“As a nurse and an American Cancer Society volunteer, I know the health risks of tanning in general and the specific risks of indoor tanning, and I know we have to do more to make our children and young adults aware of those dangers before any added damage occurs,” said Hall-Long, who is the chairwoman of the Delaware Cancer Consortium’s public education committee. “We also know that young people think they’re invincible and that skin cancer can’t happen to them. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
I agree completely with the new law in Delaware, and encourage other states to follow suit. Young children certainly have no business using tanning beds. I think it reflects badly upon parents, that they even let their children use them before all this new information came to light.
Before the latest findings, I think it was general consensus that whatever tanning beds did to you, it surely was not a good thing. People that are of age have the right to determine for themselves what is a worth risk. Children however, have to be protected a bit as they might not be able to make such important decisions for themselves. Some people might argue that the state is intervening too much here with people’s right to make their own choices. When it comes to minors though, I have no problem with it.
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