Abortion laws challenged

[k69atie]

A mother-of-five is challenging guidelines that allow abortions to be carried out on young girls without their parents' knowledge.

Sue Axon, 50, says she has always regretted having an abortion two decades ago and claims it made her ill and had a long-term effect.

But her crusade for a judicial review of the guidelines began after she heard about the case of 14-year-old Melissa Smith, whose school arranged an abortion for her.


Melissa Smith regretted her decision The teenager, from Mansfield, took the first of two abortion pills without her mother Maureen knowing. She later regretted her decision, by which time it was too late.

Current rules say doctors should respect the confidentiality of a patient under 16 undergoing a termination.

But Mrs Axon, from Baguley in Manchester, says the guidelines are unlawful and parents have the legal right to be consulted.

She argues that the House of Lords has already ruled that doctors should tell parents about the treatment given to under-16s unless there are "exceptional" circumstances.

When she won the High Court review in December, Mrs Axon said: "I want legislation to allow me to be told - not necessarily to stop it - but to be informed at least".

 

[Hymnz]

my sister had an abortion. im still not sure how i feel on the subject...

 

[DrugBa11ad]

But Mrs Axon, from Baguley in Manchester, says the guidelines are unlawful and parents have the legal right to be consulted.

If dumb ass parents didn't pressure thier children into a situation where they feel they have to hide it from them, then this wouldn't be a problem.

Parents need to understand that if they raise thier children to fear them and feel they need to hide thier mistakes from thier parents, then its thier fault. Of course parents could be dissapointed or wahtever, but hell if my parents were real strict and shit, I'd hide it from them too.

This ladies an idiot. I guess I dont disagree that parents have the right to know, but it should ultimately be the girls choice, and the parents should be understanding enough to support her. SHe shouldn't feel as if she should have to hide it.

Its just like gun-control, people fail to realize the cause of the problem, and attack the outcome and attempt to prevent it without searching for its roots. It won't ever work that way.

 

[Illuminattile]

If dumb ass parents didn't pressure thier children into a situation where they feel they have to hide it from them, then this wouldn't be a problem.

So parents should be saying "Hey, don't worry if you irresponsibly get yourself pregnant, you can just pop down to the clinic and get an abortion"? Children feel they have to hide it because they think their parents will (rightfully) be angry.

Parents need to understand that if they raise thier children to fear them and feel they need to hide thier mistakes from thier parents, then its thier fault. Of course parents could be dissapointed or wahtever, but hell if my parents were real strict and shit, I'd hide it from them too.

These aren't the kind of situations where the parents would have cut her hands off and set her off to a convent if they'd known. The girl gets into trouble, doesn't want to be disciplined so lies to her parents.

This ladies an idiot. I guess I dont disagree that parents have the right to know, but it should ultimately be the girls choice, and the parents should be understanding enough to support her. SHe shouldn't feel as if she should have to hide it.

The girl in question is FOURTEEN. She's a minor, her parents are resonsible for her. If she'd committed a crime, her parents would have been notified. LEGALLY a fourteen year old is not capable of making such life changing decisions.

 

[Jacob]

I don't disagree that parents have the right to know -- hell, I'm a person who thinks that 16 is too young for people to be driving! However, we should consider the possibility that if the schools/doctors/etc. are legally required to inform the parents then that could discourage these secretive kids from going to anybody. This could create an entirely different type of problem (ever hear of girls trying to drink their way to a miscarriage?).

 

[Illuminattile]

I don't disagree that parents have the right to know -- hell, I'm a person who thinks that 16 is too young for people to be driving! However, we should consider the possibility that if the schools/doctors/etc. are legally required to inform the parents then that could discourage these secretive kids from going to anybody. This could create an entirely different type of problem (ever hear of girls trying to drink their way to a miscarriage?).

Very good point.

Not sure how you'd get around that. The point still stands - it's not fair on the parents that a child who is still under their care can go off and terminate a pregnancy without their knowledge - but you do run the risk of girls being put in a position whereby they can't talk to anyone and end up taking matters into their own hands.

 

[Amara]

"Current rules say doctors should respect the confidentiality of a patient under 16 undergoing a termination."

Confidentiality is admirable but at 16, they are nevertheless a child. Like Illuminattile said, as a minor she should be deemed by law to be incapable of making such a decision without consultation and guidance of her guardians or parents. Doctors should be aware of that more than anyone, a child needs support. In any case, prevention is the key. I wonder how much information was given prior to having an abortion... you'd think if it had been an informed decision, the regret would be minimised.

 

[DrugBa11ad]

So parents should be saying "Hey, don't worry if you irresponsibly get yourself pregnant, you can just pop down to the clinic and get an abortion"? Children feel they have to hide it because they think their parents will (rightfully) be angry.

I never said they have to condone it. I just believe they should not act as if its a fucking life or death situation. (for the girl, that is). I understand parents can be angry or dissappointed, or whatever, but all I'm saying is people make mistakes, I would not be a parent that creates a big fuss over it. People make mistakes, get over it. She'll learn from it and not do it again hopefully. If she does, oh well, its her mistake.

The girl in question is FOURTEEN. She's a minor, her parents are resonsible for her. If she'd committed a crime, her parents would have been notified. LEGALLY a fourteen year old is not capable of making such life changing decisions.

Like I said, I guess I dont disagree whether the parents should be notified or not, but it should ultimately be the girls decision whether or not to get the abortion. I understand the fact that they have a right to know, being legally responsible for her and all, but what if those parents would try and force her to have the baby? Then thats wrong, and I would definitly agree that she secretly gets an abortion if she really wants it.

Thiers to much gray area and too many variables with different situations. I dunno.

 

[_carmi]

i do believe that at 16 u shouldnt make life-changing decisions like getting aborted or having a baby. parents do have the right ot know if their girls are pregnant or not. confidentiality should not be allowed under 16 years old.

but as said previously, the parents pressure is something very hard on kids. some parents would really kick their kids out if they were pregnant. kids are afraid of rejection so they hide and usually get aborted and most of the time regret their decisions.

 

[shattered dreams]

okay, ive researched abortions and ive heard many stories from girls who have gotten abortions at a young age.

Most girls who get abortions think there is no other alternative. In the studies ive seen and in all the stories i read, 85 percent i believed did not research any other alternatives, nor the actual procedure. They do not know at 11 weeks of pregnancy the baby is already well formed. And they dont know exactly that an abortion is basically sucking the baby out of you if its not far, and if its farther along they cut the baby up and then suck it out. Harsh reality of it but its the truth.And the pills if you are far along, actually kill the baby and it drops from you, so it comes out in a glob but you can still see the baby if it is formed in the slightest bit. Most girls think they are aware of whats going on around them because they ask the abortion clinic or who ever is administiring the actual procedure questions,well they tell the girl the baby is just a blob, because an ultrasound doesnt really pick up on the babys development until further along. And the girl still thinks its a tissue. but when she sees the actual parts being sucked up, theres no turning back.

Now with all of that said, a girl that is not an adult i really believe do not ever research what abortion is, cause and affect, and how it will affect them. especially a girl of 14 she doesnt even know where to begin, shes just thinking about making it go away. Fact of the matter is, unless you are 18 you can even have permission to leave campus, unless your guardian knows about that, but yet you are allowed to kill a child? Sorry but MOST girls are not mature enough to really reasearch and know what they are doing before they do it.
I agree with the woman. girls under 18 should have to tell their parents about it.

 

[Illuminattile]

girls under 18 should have to tell their parents about it.

Should the parents merely be informed, or should they be the ones to make the decision?

Is it really fair to have someone else force you to give birth?

 

[Big Flipp]

This is a really hard issue for me to pick a side on. I can understand both sides. Parents are responsable for their children and deserve to know what their kids are doing. But they should educate their children enough to know, having sex without a condom is dangerous and at that age,what are the kids doing having sex anyway? But from the child's point of view, a lot of kids are worried about getting beat by their parents which is a legimate fear. So maybe yes, they should be allowed to have an abortion without notifying their parents but it should be a red flag and maybe force them to get some counsling and or have child services look into their case.

 

[shattered dreams]

Should the parents merely be informed, or should they be the ones to make the decision?

Is it really fair to have someone else force you to give birth?

The parents should be informed, and i also believe all abortion clinics should be legally forced, to tell the patient to truth about how developed there baby is, and show pictures, and let them know the emotional after effect that haunts most women the rest of the their life.

However, to the question of is it really fair to have someone else force you to give birth?. Is it really fair to kill a child, simply because you were irresponsible, and dont want to take responsiblity for your actions? Now their are other alternatives, you can register for adoption, and as soon as you have the baby a family will be set up to take the child, and almost all of the families allow visiting, and seeing the child whenever. But yes, i believe the parents should be able to stop the child from having an abortion. But at the same time, its not fair for parents to force their child to have an abortion.

But i wouldnt really, be so against minors getting abortions without parent consult. But most women and especially young girls, get a life full of regret afterwards, simply because of uninformed decision. And MOST not all, but most parents would at least research about the procedure.

But none the less, i think im just against ignorance. If people were forced to know the truth about the procedure, i think most abortions would stop.