must a minor have an abortion if both parents think it is the right thing to do?

Question

the boy is no where to be found. he is 18 and she is 16. she is not mature enough to handle a child no matter what she thinks. do the parents have any rights?

Thank you all for the great answers and for the few that obviously have problems. f-off. That goes to you perry and the idiot who asked why i changed my name. this is the first time i have been here d-***.

obviously I was asking others so we know what options the parents have. she is too young but i understand it is her decision. it was just a question not a statement that i was trying to force anyone to do something they dont want to do.

again the ones without the problems thank you for the answers and the ones with the problems and worthless comments i pray for your children. obviously you are screwed up. let god be the judge

Answer 1

That is a question which has never been firmly answered in the courts. There are now several states where parents cannot stop a child from having an abortion, but there have been very few cases addressing the opposite of that. In general, based on how the courts have ruled overall, I suspect the parents would lose in this battle as well.

Therefore, I would suggest the parents forget about rights and instead focus more on the conventional methods of getting older kids to do as they want - cutting off funds, blackmail, threats, and so on. :)


REPLY TO OTHER COMMENTS: To hazydaze and others who say it should solely be the girl's choice, while that certainly is how the courts have ruled, it is something I emphatically disagree with. In every other instance, parents have full authority to make decisions concerning the medical treatment of their minor children. This, a pregnant minor, is the only area where the courts have stepped in to entirely strip parents of that authority. I believe that decision by the courts was ill-conceived and fundamentally wrong.

Regardless, when talking about a minor, one thing that is rarely ever mentioned is the potential expenses born by the parents. If the minor child keeps the baby, the parents can ultimately be liable for the entire medical expenses associated with that birth. In other words, if that minor cannot pay, the hospital will in fact go after the parents. This can run into many thousands of dollars.

In some states, the costs associated with the welfare of the baby can also be passed to the parents if their minor child cannot meet those obligations. In these situations, the parents can find themselves entirely responsible for the full costs (medical expenses, food, clothing, and so on) of rearing that baby until their minor child reaches the age of 21.

In the case of an abortion, even though there are free or reduced-cost clinics, the parents are still liable for medical expenses due to any potential complications from that abortion. This can again run into many thousands of dollars.

If the courts what to deprive parents of any voice in this matter and leave the choice solely up to a child, then those same courts should go the next step and fully absolve the parents from any financial liability. As it is now, the minor child is free to make the choice, while the parents may ultimately pay for that choice.

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Answer 2

I don't know what the law is where you live, and I can understand what you say about the girl maybe not being old and mature enough to handle a child (my God I'd barely stopped playing with dolls at 16 let alone having a child!), but I'm not sure if parents can "force" a minor to have an abortion, or whether they should.

I am NOT anti-abortion and any 16 year old who wanted one should get one! But if the girl is dead set against it I'm not sure what you can do. It doesn't seem right to "force" anyone to have an abortion anymore than it seems right to "prevent" someone from having one.

It also seems a llittle unfair that this girl's parents are likely to be "saddled" with the child because I'm sure if she is as immature as you say, once she has had the baby it will all be too much work and it will be her parents who will have to foot the bill and bring the child up. In that case adoption would be the best offer but to be honest oif she doesn't want an abortion its unlikely she'd want to give the baby away after birth.

I would imagine that if she insists on having the baby and then realises how hard it is when the baby is born (which she will) and leaves it for the parents to do the upbringing, then her parents could approach social services (or your equivalent) about having the child adopted.

Answer 3

not in this case. while she is legally not an adult, it is still her choice. And though you may doubt her, have some faith. having a child changes people a lot, and younger girls typically grow up quickly when they have a child.
If all else fails, allow her to keep her child, and if she agrees down the line that she cannot handle it, she can always take the baby to a hospital, police department or fire department, and leave it there with a nurse, doctor, officer, etc. and the baby will be put up for adoption.
Please do not rob a young woman of her right, and joy, of being a mother. I know many women who had children at 16, and grew up quickly and are honestly some of the best parents i've ever seen. Don't sell her short... she very well may be a lot stronger and able than you realize.

Also, being that she is so young, she can get a lot of assistance from the state and federal government, which will make it easier for her, in turn making her less stressed and more able to care for her child. Side note, take him to court and get child support.

Answer 4

No, the parents cannot legally for her to have an abortion. There are options through the courts, but no self respecting judge is going to grant the parents the right to terminate the life of their grandchild. She may not be ready to raise a child, but the parents should have prevented this from happening in the first place. She's still their daughter, and just because she didnt' do things the way they wanted doesn't mean they get to choose the direction of her life now. Good luck to you but consider adoption, there are so many families that cannot have children that would love to adopt a beautiful baby.

Answer 5

No. When a girl becomes pregnant she has complete authority over what happens to her body and the unborn baby she carries. Obviously she chose to tell the parents, that also was her right. She could have chose to lie and the doctors would have to comply through doc/patient confidentiality. If she continues to be open with her parents will most likely depend on their responses to the decisions she makes.

Pushing her into a decision of any kind may drive her away, making her feel unloved or unwelcomed in her family. Their best bet for a continued relationship with their daughter (and possibly their grandchild) is to give her all her options in detail (abortion, adoption, or keeping the child). Encourage her talk with someone who has been in each situation. Reassure her that this is just for her own information and your piece of mind that she makes an informed choice. Then help her set up appointments to talk with someone through an adoption center, abortion clinic, and a home for unwed mothers. You must let her decide for herself or you will risk her resentment forever. Abortion is permanent and it is a decision that she needs to live with for the rest of her life.

Answer 6

I am assuming you are her parent?
I had a baby when I was 16, and I'm pretty sure my parents didn't think I was mature enough. I'm not saying it wasn't hard, because it was, but you'd be surprised how fast I grew up. If you are her parent, my best advice to you, if she keeps the baby, is to make her be the parent. Don't babysit all the time, if it is crying don't get it, make her. It is her child and her responsibility. Be there for advice, and of course everyone needs help sometimes, but make her take care of her own child. That is what my mom did, and we are fine. My son is now 12 and I am married. Everything turned out great and I wouldn't go back. I am in no way saying girls should have children when they are still children themselves, but sounds like you are already in that position, so you need to make the best of it.

Answer 7

Why would you kill a child because the bearer is too immature? Please consider letting her carry it to term and giving the child up for adoption. At least then the child would not lose its life. Or, there are a million ways to work around the situation, such as getting help from others in order to allow the mother to stay in school. She will mature as needed - she is far more capable than one would think. She will also be able to get lots of state funding and grants for college if she is a single mother. Maybe the hard work of being a mother and attending school will make her a stronger person. You will never know until you let her try.

Answer 8

I dont think a parent could force the girl to get an abortion, but also dont know if the parents would be responsible for the 16 year old daughter as well as her child? Hopefully the girl can be talked into giving the baby up for adoption.

Answer 9

No, it cannot be done. Take her to a pregnancy help clinic or Planned Parenthood. They will explain her options (abortion, adoption, or raising the child) and give her guidence. Unfortunaly there isn't anything for you to do. You are going to get a lot of greif for this question. I think it's great you are allowing your daughter to have the option! A lot of parents will NOT allow their daughters to get an abortion and then complain when they have the raise thier grandchild. She will make the final decision and hopefully she'll make the right one for her!

Answer 10

No parent should have any right to force a 16 year old to have an abortion. The baby should be put up for adoption instead.