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Filed under: In The News
Should abortion require parental consent? Credit: Getty Images
The story points out that abortion opponents are using other local laws as a guide, such as one that "... requires Delaware teens ages 14 to 17 to get a parent's written permission to use a tanning bed. Children under 14 are prohibited from tanning unless a doctor recommends it." (Not to be flip about a serious topic, but under what circumstances would a doctor recommend that a 12-year-old use a tanning bed?)
What do you think? Is the proposed law reasonable? Or should pregnant teens be allowed to make this decision for themselves?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
4-06-2011 @ 1:33PM
Lauren said...I think parents have every right to know what's going on in this instance. It would keep the kids from making what could be viewed as a rash decision "just to save face." A child's life is at stake! And lets face it, if the teenager really was mature, they wouldn't be getting pregnant in the first place. And its not really an "accident" because it really isn't one if you're having sex. Its always a potential risk even if you use preventative methods. Don't want to risk it, simply abstain. Its as simple as that, and not that hard either. Its pretty sad that people genuinely feel that teenagers can't possible do that. It is possible and doable, and still have a great life!
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4-06-2011 @ 7:06PM
isisreptiles said...A similar law has failed several times in my state. Ideally, a pregnant teen should feel that she can go to her parents for help, but this isn't always the case. Think about it--a girl who would be willing to go through an abortion alone probably has some very serious problems at home--problems that could be made much worse by her being ratted out. I've heard of girls who were beaten, thrown out of their homes, or forced to have and keep the unwanted baby as "punishment". And if she is denied a legal abortion, she could possibly seek out an illegal abortion, with possibly fatal consequences. A girl who feels that she can go to her parents WILL go to her parents, and I think this is the case with most girls, but not for all.
You can preach all you want about abstinence but some teens will still have sex. Yes, it would be a better choice for them to wait until they are older and better able to deal with any consequences, but it's not that simple.
I hope the law doesn't go through, just like it didn't go through in my state.
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