Mom, I want an Abortion!! Part Two

the flip side

Published on July 28, 2005 By lifehappens In Current Events

After the recent flury of responses, (thank you!!) on my last article on parental notification in minor's seeking an abortion. Link I decided to put another question to the test.

Do parents have the right to force a minor to carry a pregnancy to term rather than get an abortion?
Please assume for simplicity that the girl made a poor decision and was not molested or abused. The parents are perfectly competent parents and there is no reason to remove the child legally.

Comments (Page 2)

Texas Wahine

on Aug 07, 2005

I normally regard your opinion very highly, but this stinks of fence sitting.

True, it is fence sitting. There are few things that I feel are so black and white that I can confidently take a definitive stance.

I agree that parental consent should be required (although there is a lot of grey area with this), therefore, the parents are legally liable for the decision the child makes.

HOWEVER, I feel that a parent making that life-altering decision for a child is wrong. Forcing a child to carry a pregnancy to term, or alternately, forcing a child to have an abortion...is wrong.

I'm trying to make a distinction (and I haven't done so very competently in my previous post) between what is legal and what is correct or morally right or appropriate. I think it should be legal for the parent to know about and take part in those decisions. I think it is wrong for a parent to use that power to force a child into a decision that goes against her wishes for her body, her health, and her life.

I hope I am making this clear...I'm not sure how else to put it.

Dr Guy

on Aug 08, 2005

Oh, and thank you for yet another display of gross insensitivity.

HOw can it be gross insensitivity if I never knew anything about your situation? Are you saying because of your condition, no one is allowed to talk about or ask you about children? Regardless of whether they are aware of your particular situation or not?

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