Alternet: Senate Bans Out-of-State Abortions for Teens

[benevolent dictator]

Senate Bans Out-of-State Abortions for Teens
To pro-choicers' dismay, the Senate has approved a bill prohibiting anyone from taking a minor over state lines to avoid parental notification laws. What's next?

<snip>

The bill prohibits parents and other adults from taking a pregnant minor to another state to have an abortion without complying with parental involvement laws in the young woman's home state.

If the bill is signed into law, the New York-based American Civil Liberties Union has committed to challenging it on behalf of the National Abortion Federation, a professional association of abortion providers based in Washington, D.C.

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Center for Reproductive Rights -- two abortion rights groups in New York -- have also committed to challenging the bill on behalf of various clients, said Julie Sternberg, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU's Reproductive Freedom Project.

</snip>

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Got a question

Suppose a teenager gets pregnant, and there are complications-ones that will result in the mother dying if the fetus isn't aborted. If the girl is underage, and her parents are religious nuts who think that any abortion, even to save the life of the mother, is a sin, could this child get an abortion? Or would she basically be sentenced to death? (I remember a movie called "The Cardinal" in which the protagonist's sister was faced with this problem-her brother would not allow the abortion, and his sister died. As I recall, this was justified because his sister was a "loose" woman, and her child turned out to be a good kid. That bothered me then and it bothers me now.)

[benevolent dictator]

2. The article says

The legislation makes an exception for those whose lives are endangered by pregnancy but not for those whose health is in danger.

So... I guess so, but only if she's about to die.

Parental notification laws basically ban abortion for minors. I guess that's the point.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. but again,

the teen would have to go before a judge to be able to get the lifesaving measure. And what if they kept her from doing that? I could see that happening.

[Nobody]

4. True enough

There are plenty of slimeballs who would impregnate their own daughters. This is one example of a damn good reason why parental notifications laws are not necessarily good ideas.

Sometimes the parent is NOT the trusted adult. As long as there is someone who is in the trusted adult role, that should be enough. It can be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, guidance counselor at school, teacher, or the mother of the best friend.

Most of the time, a girl should be able to go to her own parents, but if she chooses someone else, there is often a damn good reason. Abuse? Rape committed by father or brother? Fear of being booted out of the family?

Dragging in a court order converts of 1st trimester abortion into a second trimester abortion. All abortions should be done in a timely manner.