About teens and excluding parents from abortion/BC choices?

Question

I asked another question regarding whether or not minors should be able to receive B.C./abortions without parental consent, and the answers were pretty much 50/50 for each side-here is my next one:
If a minor still under her parents care chooses to get either one of these without her parents consent and something DOES go wrong, should the parents be able to sue the child for medical costs, mental anguish, etc? After all, by completely excluding the parents the teen and the Dr. are both volunteering the parents unwillingly and unknowingly to cover any medical, emotional and mental issues that may arise. Also, by allowing the child to bypass the parents on medical decisions even though their parents are the ones financially responsible, you are saying that the child is mature enough to make sound medical choices......so if they do that, shouldn't they be automatically emancipated if it negatively impacts the parents?

If you can't 'force' her to have a baby, you can't 'volunteer' her parents to foot the bill if you have excluded them in ever major decision, right? It's like someone driving your car, wrecking it, and giving you the bill........except they chose to repair it in ways you would have never agreed to-and you are now responsible!

FYI, I am 22........and I WAS A TEEN MOTHER with an abusive father. I had my beautiful daughter at age 17, so I know more than many think I do about how a teen feels

Howie....as a fool does, you ignorantly exclude girls who are raped, and blow other theories to hell (the old BC arguemnent-"teens are going to do it even if they are taught abstinence!").......well if teens are going to 'do it anyways' no matter what parents want, then how is that the parents fault?

Answer 1

Yes, since she is a minor, the parents still have to pay, regardless. I don't agree that a teen should be able to get one without informing at least one of their parents. It is a medical procedure and a child cannot legally sign anything for treatment, so it should extend to abortions.

Answer 2

First off, I think being a minor they should not be able to make decisions of that extent because it is difficult to understand the long-term effects. I also believe if the parent is footing the bill and responsible for everything, they have a right to know. I guess I dont think kids should be doing anything that they are so ashamed of that they won't tell their parents anyways.

I think if the law does not change to at least have the parents informed, I do believe that child who makes those decisions should be emancipated immediatly. One that would cause the child to think about her actions alot more, as well as it would give the parents the upper hand in the situation. Once that child is emancipated parents can still help but they are no longer obligated to.

I am 19 and pregnant, and I knew just as well now as I did at the age of 15 that babies come from sex. I don't think that is taken near as seriously as it should be. I am absolutely anti-abortion no matter what though. I think kids need to be much more cautious, if I didn't have a good paying job, hadn't been engaged for a year with the best man ever, I would still take the resposibility of being a parent on.

By the same token though, I do not believe any parent who truely wants what is best for their child should ever deny their child BC. Sure my parents didn't want me doing the things I did when I was younger, but because I couldn't understand the full gravity of the situation they put me on BC to try and protect me the best they could.

I am so sorry for what you experienced at such a young age with a father like that. I admire you for what you did! See miracles come out of chaos! :)

Answer 3

I think you're key word here is MINOR. Maybe I'm oldfashioned, but I believe that a minor should have parents consent for everything like this. I don't think kids should be able to get bc or abortions without their parents consent. I feel if the parents are responsible for the child's actions, and financial obligations until the child is 18, then these, too, should be the parent's responsibility. I have a daughter who is 19, and she still talks to me about these things...and no she's not a geek or anything. Most of her classmates also talked to their parents about bc and sex. Maybe it's just the generation?
Anyway, to answer your questions...I agree with you that if you allow kids to make these decisions, then they should be emancipated, mainly because they do not want their parents help in the matter, so the parents shouldn't have to pay for them.

Momma P

Answer 4

I would not "drive" my daughter to do something. She's 7 months historical, on the second, however shall we say she did get pregnant (sooner or later), regardless of utilizing delivery manage ways. I could no longer march her right down to the deliberate parenthood, strap her to a desk and make her get an abortion. I could TALK to my daughter. I could inform her that I could help any resolution she made, and support her, something she wanted. I consider "punishing" an unwelcomed, unborn little one is higher than "punishing" an unwelcomed, BORN little one with neglectful moms and dads. I do not stand on a avenue nook and inform each and every girl to get an abortion. I've not ever had an abortion, and I did get pregnant at a tender age. Pro-alternative is not just PRO-ABORTION. It's approximately a lady's proper to decide upon.

Answer 5

its not about suing or who pays its about what is best for the pregnant child. the parent has already failed by not instilling enough sense in the child to avoid getting pregnant, so it would be doubtful thier participation in such a decision would be any more helpful..

its also a proven fact that if parental involvement is required some girls will avoid a safe medical approach and resort to more harmful methods to end the pregnancy and that can be fatal.

its clear you are anti-abortion and are just trying to make your point. but its not your decision, so stay out of it.

perhaps if your parents had been better role models you might not have found yourself pregnant when you were still a child yourself..