from the public clinic, last night called for Government to stop giving the pill to 16-year-olds without parental consent.

The Southampton man, who asked not to be named, said such a policy not only threatened the health of teenage girls and the family unit, but could also lead to an increase in the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

He spoke with The Royal Gazette after becoming frustrated with Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann's denial that the clinic, on Victoria Street, was to blame for his daughter's illness.

Dr. Cann, earlier this month, said he was not familiar with the case made public by National Liberal Party chairman Mr. Graeme Outerbridge.

And he later said while it was difficult to look into such a claim without an official complaint and more information from Mr. Outerbridge or the parents, his investigations had turned up nothing to suggest the 17-year-old girl's illness was linked to the clinic.

But the girl's father, who met with Dr. Cann last week, adamantly disputed this.

He said his daughter admitted that she obtained the pills from the clinic after his wife found them in her bedroom last May.

About a month later, he said, his daughter was rushed to the hospital for internal bleeding brought on by the pill which was of the wrong strength.

The father claimed that when he contacted the medical officer in the women's clinic, Dr. Brenda Davidson, she was abrupt and told him the clinic had the right to give the pill to those who were 16 or older without parental consent.

"They (the clinic) maybe covered by the law,'' he said. "But the parent is responsible for that child until they are 18 years old.

"How can they give them the pill at 16 years old without parental consent? "I don't care if the rest of the world is doing this or not. The law should be changed to at least 18.'' The frustrated father, who said he knew of another family whose teenage daughter became pregnant after getting pills from the clinic, also questioned whether teens received counselling from the clinic before receiving the pills.

He stressed that giving teenagers the pill left them with a false sense of security.

"There are over 200 people with HIV. At 16 I don't think that a child is old enough to realise that the pill may stop them from getting pregnant, but will not stop them from catching AIDS. I would rather them go down to the clinic to say they want a condom.'' Providing teenagers with the pill also makes them feel they are independent and old enough to make wise decisions, he added.

His daughter dropped out of high school shortly after receiving the pill from the clinic. And about three months ago, she moved away from home.

"Having the pill gives them the impression that they can do what they like and that they are independent,'' he said.

"It seems like Government is taking control of our kids.

"If Government kept their nose out and let parents discipline their children, kids would not be getting into the trouble we have today.'' But Dr. Cann, this weekend, said after checking details provided by the father, he remained satisfied that the clinic did nothing wrong.

In an earlier interview, he said the pill was administered to teens under strict guidelines and adequate counselling was also provided.

Two-month check-ups were required after the pill was given out and persons who failed to show up were not given any more pills, he said.

The clinic's emphasis is on getting adolescents to make a responsible choice and ultimately preventing teen pregnancy.

But the father of the 17-year-old said: "The safest method of birth control is to abstain from sex until you reach an age when you can be responsible for yourself, or use condoms''.