Abortion.

[buttmunch]

Should parents be informed if thier unage child wants to have an abortion?

[buttmunch]

why?

[Tiara]

Oooh Buttmunch are you trying to cause a mass debate?? Hehehe

I'd say yes, If the child is under the legal age to have sex then the parent's should be told. But I suppose it depends on the situation and the parents, I mean I'm sure health services wouldn't want to inform parents about their daughter being pregnant if it meant they we're going to beat her for it!!

[miss_perfect]

Originally Posted by lalaland

Because no one is performing a medical procedure on my child without my knowledge

ITA lala, even though I don't have any children.

[buttmunch]

That's the problem, isn't it? In principle, I understand why parents would want to know. But then you have children who are victims of thier own families or hae violent, abusive families or extremely religious families and in telling the parents, you could really fuck a kids life up. and at what age is a kid able to make these decisions for themselves? 16? 18? It's a tough question.

And no, I'm not trying to start a controversy!! I've just been reading alot of articles recently on this subject, both in US and UK papers, and it seems that the debate is heating up again. I thought it was settled, but then again, I thought our country would never resort to blatant torture and try to justify it.

[suede]

It's not that the child is having an abortion - that's mute - it's as LALA already said, it's a surgical procedure and if you are not of age you need parental (or gaurdian) consent to preform a surgical procedure.

It's a matter of safety and responsibility and not a conspirancy of privacy.

[buttmunch]

I guess some parents would react normally or semi-normally (handcuffed to the bed, eh? ) but there are plenty who wouldn't. There are a lot of fucked up, freaky parents out there who don't understand the word understanding and would beat the shit out of a kid who got knocked up. And I wouldn't want some girl who was too scared to tell her parents to go to a back-street abortionist (although that's what everyone who wants to terminate an unwanted pregnancy will end up doing if el Shrubbo has his way.). I see both sides of it but I come down more on the side of those who think it might cause more harm than good.

[SVZ]

hmm....but those types of families are not normal by any stretch. i dont think laws should have to conform to people just because they're completely messed up i dunno just thinking out loud.

[cloud]

Originally Posted by SVZ

hmm....but those types of families are not normal by any stretch. i dont think laws should have to conform to people just because they're completely messed up i dunno just thinking out loud.

I totally agree. It seems like our society is starting to try to legislate based on these extremes, which leaves parents especially with too many restrictions (eg. spanking = child abuse).

[suede]

Fear of punishment should be motivation enough for a child not to let themselves be in a position (no pun intended) to let themselves risk becoming pregnant.

The flip side is that so many adults are grossly irresponsible with their own bodies so what sort of example do the present?

[buttmunch]

I agree that the family would probably already be fucked up so maybe I'm way off base. But somehow I'm against parents being notified. I think underage kids should also be able to get birth control from Planned Parenthood or similiar without the parents being informed. What's your thoughts on that?

[SVZ]

well up here in canada, at least i think so, there's like a confidentiality thing, where the nurse doesn't tell anyone, unless they feel the need to alert the parent.

[suede]

Originally Posted by buttmunch

I guess some parents would react normally or semi-normally (handcuffed to the bed, eh? ) but there are plenty who wouldn't. There are a lot of fucked up, freaky parents out there who don't understand the word understanding and would beat the shit out of a kid who got knocked up. And I wouldn't want some girl who was too scared to tell her parents to go to a back-street abortionist (although that's what everyone who wants to terminate an unwanted pregnancy will end up doing if el Shrubbo has his way.). I see both sides of it but I come down more on the side of those who think it might cause more harm than good.

I think the best thing for such a situation is an advocate to be there with the child to tell her parents and hopefully the boy's family.

[buttmunch]

Fear of punishment should be motivation enough for a child not to let themselves be in a position (no pun intended) to let themselves risk becoming pregnant.

The flip side is that so many adults are grossly irresponsible with their own bodies so what sort of example do the present?

I think that's a bit unrealistic. Have you never been drunk, hot and horny? Shit happens sometimes. But I do agree that the adult world is incredibly irresponsible. The media pushes sexual images on everyone, including kids and then we all throw our hands up in horror when we realize how sexualized our children have become. Get real. Kids have sex and always have had. Before, the poor went to the back alley and the rich went to that nice family doctor who helped them out. Hasn't anyone read American Tragedy?

[buttmunch]

[QUOTEI think the best thing for such a situation is an advocate to be there with the child to tell her parents and hopefully the boy's family.][/quote]
That would be ideal but I doubt the repugs would go for it. Especially since they're really into abstinence and punishment.