For the most part, local parents, church leaders and officials say the 14-year-old parental notification law, which became effective today, is good for teens and their parents. While some teens say they'd feel uncomfortable telling their parents about their decision to get an abortion, the law mandates that they do. There are a few exceptions in the case of incest or abuse.
Others are concerned that the law is too lax, that young girls will just forge signatures. Doctors also have been granted a 90-day reprieve from the Illinois State Medical Disciplinary board. That means the board will not take any action against doctors for performing abortions without parental consent. Planned Parenthood says they don't need the grace period. They're ready to fulfill the law.
What do you think? Should parents have a say in whether their children get abortions? Is parental notification just a Band-Aid for the real issue - parents' inability to talk to their kids about sex? or that abortion is legal at all? Is the legislation too soft? Tell us what you think.
Chris -
Be prepared for this topic to heat up......
Here's my two cents: I am absolutely for Abortion to be fully legal in this Country and any other. However, I think this law is a fairly well reasoned compromise to handle the special circumstances when a minor is involved. The key element to this is the ability of the minor to declare that they are victims of abuse in order to avoid notification. This could save their lives from retribution from abusive parents / guardians. The sad truth is that many young girls get pregnant via sexual abuse from family members. In fact, the vast majority of child sexual abuse is a result of family abuse not "strangers".
I know there will be a ton of posts from the "abortion is a holocaust" crowd. We saw that in an earlier entry. I respectfully and completely disagree with you and your beliefs. I understand that you feel the same way about me. Please try to keep this thread civil & recognize that many of us that disagree with you are reasonable and intelligent people more than willing to have a discussion with you.
If a medical professional needs parental consent to perform a medical procedure on a minor (absent an emergency), why should abortion be any different?
Why is it a minor can get an abortion without parental consent, but can’t get a tattoo?
T.B.
Well nice start blemum. Let the name calling begin and allow me to be the first to strike back in offense. As a member of the "abortion is a holocaust crowd", it would seem to me if I am legally liable for the conduct of my children under a variety of tort law including for example parental vicarious liability statutes, I should certianly be involved in the medical care my minor children seek. And doubly if I am the insured under an employment funded and deducted medical insurance plan. See, if some butcher at Planned Parenthood (Women's Healthcare Clinic) botches the abortion and there are permanent or disfiguring injuries that incapacitate my minor child, can I expect bluemum or What the ? to do the responsible thing and step up to the plate and assist me in change of lifestyle care? Of course not. And there will be no discussion about abortion alternative such as surrogate adoption if I am a parent are excluded from any decision. I am opposed to any law that excludes my rights and more importantly my moral obligation as a parent to the "Statist" blemum and What the ? crowd of crazies.
I fully support the parent notification law taking effect today. I am pro life and would like to see the unborn child protected from being killed. Parents should be more involved in the social life of their teens and be willing to set high standards. but unfortunately many parents are more concerned with being their child's friend and that their child is having fun. Therefore too much freedom is given to today's teens with regards to their social life and not enough responsibility.
RE: By Glock 22 on August 5, 2009 9:49 AM
If you read my entry again, you will see that my position is as follows:
1. I am for the Government having NO say in an adult's decision - quite the opposite of being a "Statist" as you called me. [So much for not calling names]. My political sway is neither Liberal nor Conservative in total. I tend to make stands based on my firm belief that individuals must be free to make decisions and deal with the results of those decisions. If you need to label me, how about "Individualist"? These beliefs apply equally to over bearing Democratic Political Correctness as well as over bearing Republican Religious Dogma. I have no problem with others holding these beliefs, I simply do not believe they have the right to force them upon me. In other words, the Government should simply be "silent" on social matters. Let each person have the freedom to make the choice for themselves....
2. I actually support the Parental Notification Law. It is a well reasoned law that tries to balance the need for parental involvement with the realities of the world. It would be nice if the only way a teenage girl got pregnant was poor decisions with her partner. Reality is something quite different. There are many instances where young girls are impregnated via Rape. It is statistically proven that the majority of child sexual abuse is committed by relatives. This creates a very sticky situation where the requirement to notify the very person who raped her can arise. The law attempts to provide a reasonable course through this terrible scenario.
I say it's about time! What are laws for? To be rewitten by judicial activists? Yes I am pro-life and I realize beliefs on both sides of this issue are fairly rigid and unlikely to change. If your child goes on a field trip in school you are required to sign a waiver. If he or she goes to stay at a friend's home you must give permission. How can you blindly turn your eyes away as some low life butcher preforms a dangerous invasive proceedure like abortion. If you love and care for your children you will want to know before it happens. If you want to be oblivious and spare yourself any trouble...oh well.
blemum on August 7, 2009 10:23 AM
There are many instances where young girls are impregnated via Rape. It is statistically proven that the majority of child sexual abuse is committed by relatives. This creates a very sticky situation where the requirement to notify the very person who raped her can arise. The law attempts to provide a reasonable course through this terrible scenario.
This may sound a little strange, but wouldn't the offending family member almost welcome the fact that their victim wanted to get an abortion? After all, this is a crime that involves secrecy, how would the birth of a child go over if it was discovered that the father of the baby was also a family member? Something that with dna is now very easy to test.
The real tragedy of silence is that the horrible crime of rape goes unreported.
Oh, Glock, how sweet! You must miss me! I can tell because you mention me in your posts when I'm absent for awhile. Come on, admit it!
I just love the fact that you're the one who has threatened armed insurrection and whatnot on these blogs, but it's others you call the "crazies"! Too funny. You know, truly crazy people don't have a clue they are; they always believe it's everyone else who is nuts.
Just something to consider the next time you're out on the firing range.
Quiet What the ?. I have my tin foil hat on, receiving instructions from RNC Headquarters as to the location of the next "townhall" meeting I am being sent to for dissruption.
By T.B. on August 5, 2009 7:10 AM
If a medical professional needs parental consent to perform a medical procedure on a minor (absent an emergency), why should abortion be any different?
Why is it a minor can get an abortion without parental consent, but can’t get a tattoo?
_______________________________________________________________
I could not agree more with your comment. If a minor can not get a tatoo, implants, tummy tuck, or any other elective surgery without a parent or guardian's consent then why would they be allowed to get an abortion without the same consent? And whose insurance pays for the procedure if the parent or guardian is not notified? Who will pay for follow-up care or, God forbid, emergency care if there are complications due to the procedure? And, if the girl's parent or guardian does not have knowledge that the procedure was done in the first place, how can they help their child receive the proper follow-up care or emergency care if it is necessary? And most importantly, how can a parent or guardian help a girl recover - both physically and mentally- from this traumatic experience if they are oblivious to its occurrance?
Kind of sad that the first you know about what your minor child has been up to is via this law...
Love it, Glock! Glad to see your sense of humor is returning. It really helps one keep things in perspective.
I will not be around for awhile, so here is something to enjoy in my absence:
http://unclejayexplains.com/
If Obama's reduction of health care for the elderly (passive euthanasia), universal abortion as a right (by court ruling if its not excluded, it's included in the insurance), and income redistribution via the medical system (half will pay nothing for their health care) law passes:
This law (parental notification) will be nullified by Federal Law and become irrelevant.
With the tremendous concentration of unrestrained power in the Federal Government, State and local Governments have already been reduced to little more than errand boys and become increasing irrelevant with each new power grab by the Congress and Executive Branches.
The proposed "reform" does not define the benefits, this will be left to a Board to be appointed by Obama. Universal Abortion and passive euthanasia are some of the only items defined in the bill.
Excellent article includes eugenics: Philosophy of healthcare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_healthcare
Abortion is legal because the Supreme Court decided that babies inside the mother are non-persons.
One of the key advisers to Ezekiel Emanuel (Obama's health care planner, Rahm Emanuel's brother) was published stating that if you don't know there is a tomorrow, you are a non-person. Translation, legalized abortion for kids up to the age of two. Currently known as murder.
Ezekiel has his own published graph showing that people between the ages of 15 and 45 deserve the most care since they are likely to be the most "productive" for society. Translation, if you pay more in taxes than you consume you will get medical care if you are sick.
The "reform bill" does nothing to address laws suits, the primary driver in the cost increases in medical care via defensive medicine. Enrollment in medical schools is declining because of the hostile legal environment. The future may be C and B students performing your surgery, or more likely just lower the standards to achieve a social engineering goal.
When the National Bankruptcy kicks in full force (current un-funded obligations are $75 trillion) hope you and your family are healthy and between 15 and 45.
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When does the bankruptcy occur?
When it becomes obvious that the FEDs will never be able to repay their loans to bond holders; and investors demand secured loans (national assets pledged directly to the creditors) and 20-40% interest rates. Currently, the FEDs are passively exporting entire industries to the Chinese so they will continue to fund the insanity in DC. California's creditors can sue to gain control of the parks and various other state assets.
Unable to sustain borrowing at these rates, the FEDs will continue to print and create money via banking magic at an accelerating rate leading to dollar dumping which is already well underway. $2 Trillion printed this year, and estimates of banking magic up to $27 Trillion in the bailouts which are not over. One scenario becoming more likely every day is hyper-inflation like Wiemar Germany (pre NAZI).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiemar_republic
The value of the dollar has decreased 50% in the last 10 years. Think what a 50-90% decrease overnight will feel like. Bread and gas both currently around $3, jumping to $6-15 dollars literally overnight, your pay will remain the same. Look at Argentina's financial collapses to see a real life model.
Argentina: Democracy section
"The previous regime's foreign debt, however, left the Argentine economy saddled by the conditions imposed on it by both its private creditors and the IMF, and priority was given to servicing the foreign debt at the expense of public works and domestic credit....
......Following a 1989 currency crisis that resulted in a sudden and ruinous 15-fold jump in prices, he left office five months early"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina
Today, most sources of FED revenue have collapsed, 30% or more. Like the housing boom, the FEDs are running on empty and charging it to our kids.
Lets buy a bigger government with a NINA loan?