Abortion Without Parental Consent

1562 Words7 Pages
HUM200 M2 Assignment 2 Argosy University Babies Not Having Babies Pleshette L. Adkins The laws concerning the right of a minor to have a legal abortion differs with each of the United States. 13 out of 49 states have no policy in effect, which means a minor can obtain an abortion without parental consent. (Abortion Laws For Teens by State, 2007) So the question remains, should a minor have the right to have an abortion without the knowledge or consent of a parent? 13 states say yes, leaving parents in a vulnerable position of never knowing whether or not their daughters had a medical procedure without their knowledge or consent. There are many that will argue that a woman’s body is her right…show more content…
As it stands right now, I believe that a minor should have parental consent when having any medical procedure done including abortion, however by the time I finish this assignment is it possible that I could be persuaded to lean in the other direction? In favor of non parental consent: 1. Rape or incest would be a main reason why abortion without parental consent is acceptable. 2. Dangers of back alley abortions are another reason because we definitely do not want our children to find illegal ways to get an abortion simply because they are afraid to tell their parents. This will cause more complications for the minor and the parents. 3. Having a baby would interfere with finishing school. Most minors who have babies do not finish and graduate from high school. There is even more of a slim chance that they will go back to school to get their GED and continue onto…show more content…
Teens cannot make an informed decision without the guidance of a parent(s). Teens do not have the mental capacity to make medical decisions and should have the input of their parents to help guide them in making a difficult decision such as abortion. Parental responsibility status in society is the strongest argument because parents are by law legally responsible for the actions of their children. Example: A 16 year old decides to drink and drive. While under the influence and driving, the 16 year old gets into a horrible collision. The 16 year old survives but the other driver dies upon impact. The parents of the 16 year old are held financially responsible for punitive damages as well as civil damages assuredly to be filed by the family of the deceased victim. The law in this case recognizes that the child should not be held responsible. The decision to have an abortion is a serious one, and parents have a role in society to protect their children from dangers and things that may harm them. If we as a global society require parents to take responsibility, then we need to ensure that they have a corresponding right to the information that will allow them to act in their child’s best interest. (Debatewise,
Open Document