ND: No Prenatal Care for Teens w/out Parental Permission

[smartestnumber5]

This is the vast majority.

As I said, I'm not opposed to trying to find solutions for the other hypothetical girl. I'm not willing to just toss up my hands and cede parental authority though. Again, all or nothing solutions are lazy and wrong.

I'm am definitely concerned about the hypothetical girl who is being raped by her father or will be beaten for having sex or thrown out of the house for having considered having an abortion. But at least in these cases there are laws protecting such girls (thought they don't seem to do much good most of the time.)

I am more concerned about a great many more girls whose abuse is legalized by these laws. I consider forcing a teen to have an abortion or forcing her to remain pregnant an obvious case of abuse--no different in kind than the state forcing an adult woman to remain pregnant or have an abortion. I can only assume that many parents are ready and willing to use the law to force their own will upon their daughter's bodies; I've known some.

I assume folks on this thread are more reasonable and would not force their own will on their teenage daughters, but simply want to be involved in the decisions and know what is going on with their daughter. (This, I think, was my mom's reason for supporting such laws.) In this case it seems parental notification laws (which some states have) would do just fine, and there is no need for consent laws.

Also statistics show that the majority of girls seeking abortions do in fact tell their parents. I can only assume that many more girls who are pregnant tell their parents. So realistically, most good parents don't need a law to force their daughters to tell them about these things; their daughters do so on their own. So if the law isn't actually making any difference for the good parents, then who is the law for? The bad parents? Or is the need for the law to protect parental authority simply a matter of principle? It doesn't matter what the consequences of the law are or who the law helps or hurts, the law just has to uphold parental authority out of principle?

I understand your desire not to have an all or nothing solution. But in the case of consent to a major life decision which intimately involves one's body it is all or nothing. Either the parent gets to make the decision or the teen does. Parental consent give ALL to the parents and I think that's the wrong ALL.

 

[cybrkitn]

How did you get the precautions without your parent's consent? (Something over the counter I assume?)

My mom and I discussed it together (we have always had a close relationship). I chose to go on the pill. DH and I were dating since I was 16 but weren't sexually active until I was 18. We were kind of just friends for the first 2 years before we realized we loved each other. We both knew we were not ready to have kids yet and he never pushed me (he was a very rare find). Even though we have been married for 7 years (going on 8) and have a DS4, we have been together for 20 years this July.

My mom's biggest fear was that I would get pregnant out of wed-lock like one of my aunts had (and she is 6 years older than me). Granted, I was blessed to have parents I could talk to about anything. Unfortunately, a lot of kids don't have that relationship with their parents. And that is sad.

Parents want to be there for their kids. Especially in a pregnancy situation. They are the support their child will need (emotional and physical). Adults are wiser and have matured. They have been in the "real" world and have a better understanding of the bigger picture. Teenagers are still living under the protective wings of their parents. They have no concept of the real world yet. They may have some knowledge, but it is limited until they are out on their own to experience it for themselves.

 

[beattyfamily]

As long as minors remain the legal and financial responsibility of parents, then parents should not be kept out of the loop in regards to medical care. I know it's not very politically correct of me. Where did anyone ever come up with the idea that Doctors should be allowed to treat minor children without a parent's consent except in the case of emergencies?

I totally agree with you.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

I'm am definitely concerned about the hypothetical girl who is being raped by her father or will be beaten for having sex or thrown out of the house for having considered having an abortion. But at least in these cases there are laws protecting such girls (thought they don't seem to do much good most of the time.)

I;m sorry, I understand your passion, but this is just hyperbole. These kinds of cases are rare, they are not even close to the norm.

I am more concerned about a great many more girls whose abuse is legalized by these laws. I consider forcing a teen to have an abortion or forcing her to remain pregnant an obvious case of abuse--no different in kind than the state forcing an adult woman to remain pregnant or have an abortion. I can only assume that many parents are ready and willing to use the law to force their own will upon their daughter's bodies; I've known some.

Again, while I feel for these girls, I'm not going to toss out my parental rights for the protection of this hypothetical girl. Judicial emancipation, emergency hearings in the family court, etc..I'm favor of that.

Also statistics show that the majority of girls seeking abortions do in fact tell their parents. I can only assume that many more girls who are pregnant tell their parents. So realistically, most good parents don't need a law to force their daughters to tell them about these things; their daughters do so on their own. So if the law isn't actually making any difference for the good parents, then who is the law for? The bad parents? Or is the need for the law to protect parental authority simply a matter of principle? It doesn't matter what the consequences of the law are or who the law helps or hurts, the law just has to uphold parental authority out of principle?

I'm of the opinion that once we start giving our rights away, we are already losing. It is a matter of principle and the continued use of the rare hypothetical girl is not going to sway my position out of guilt, which is exactly what the hypothetical girl is supposed to do. If the state erodes parental authroity, we will neer have the ability to mold ou children into repsonsible citizens. How can they respect us if the state is always steping in and telling them that our authority is of little consequence?

I understand your desire not to have an all or nothing solution. But in the case of consent to a major life decision which intimately involves one's body it is all or nothing. Either the parent gets to make the decision or the teen does. Parental consent give ALL to the parents and I think that's the wrong ALL.

I'm not in favor of a 13 yer old making major medical and life decisions with the help of someone at Planned Parenthood (who financialyy benefit from abortion). If you trust those people to help your children make deicsions, good on you, but I'm not willing to give up my rights.