February 20, 2007
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13-Year-Old and Abortion
An Italian judge forced a 13-year-old girl to have an abortion. She wanted to have the baby but her parents didn’t want her to have it. The law in that country gives the parents priority when it comes to decisions on abortion. It is being reported that after the abortion, she threatened to commit suicide before being placed in treatment. Here is the link: Link
Who should decide whether a 13-year-old has an abortion, the 13-year-old or the parents?
Comments (204)
FIRST
13 is far too young to make that kind of decision. Then again, it’s far to young to be pregnant.
Wow! Haha. Anyway.
I’m thinkinggg the parents, maybe? I mean, they should absolutely consider the daughter’s opinion, but it’s really unhealthy to be having a baby at that age anyway.
parents
ehhh.
Wow…
Abortion is a serious issue. Giving the baby up for adoption is one thing, but the parents definitely shouldn’t be able to to force her into an abortion.
a thirteen year old shouldnt be pregnate
Neither. The government. And the answer should be no.
Neither! I say God should.
in DE the age in which a girl controls her own body is 12. i do not agree with forcing the girl to have the abortion, however it is her parents that are going to have to cover her prenatal bills, then the baby too if they kept custody of it.
God should decide. Say no to abortion!
i think that they should talk about it together.
i mean it is her baby. she has the right to keep it.
No one should force an abortion…..I am all for parental rights, but they have no right to force the death of the innocent unborn.
The girl…she has enough sense to know she dosn’t want to kill her baby!
Its ridiculous for someone to be forced to have an abortion. She should be able to decide.
I think that if you are having sex and get pregnant you should be able to choose if you wish to have the baby…but you also should be legally responsible for the baby. No, well I had the baby, but I am a minor so you have to help me raise it. If you are a big enough grown up to spread your legs and get knocked up then you should be big enough to raise it on your own. I think they chose the way they did because every parent knows they would wind up raising the child.
Bigger question is why is a 13 having sex? Hopefully they arrested the guy who got her pregnant. Why didn’t she file to be emancipated??? That would allow her to make the decision. Sounds like she didn’t really do anything in her defense.
the 13 year old, if she can decide to have sex then she can decide to keep the baby.
i’m sure the law is in place to reflect the consensus of the citizens.
I don’t know how she got pregnant, but she should be given preference. I think she made an admirable and hard decision, and for her parents to decide something contrary is undermining her free will. If she’s doing these underage acts, she can definitely make her own decisions.
the 13 year old! its her baby!!!!!!!!!
THE 13 YEAR OLD!!!
They could have forced her to give it up for adoption…but never abortion. God.
Absolutely the 13 year old.
Her body. Her decision.
The thirteen year old. Her child, her body, her decision.
PRO CHOICE!!!! It’s HER body, let her decide.
Keep your laws off my body!
Assuming it was consensual sex, I think the girl should decide. So sad she got pregnant!
They shouldn’t have an abortion regardless, but the teenager certainly shouldn’t be forced into one, that’s horrendous. This kind of action doesn’t seem to fit either side, Pro-Choice or Pro-Life.
-Jared
The mother of the child…which would be the 13 year old.
Having said that, someone get that girl some birth control…or a chastity belt.
No one has the right to tell someone to get an abortion. No one has the right to take life unless they are the Author of life.
If you’re old enough to make the decision to have sex, you’re old enough to decide if you want to keep the baby or not.
This is just the beginning of the other issues that will arise from allowing abortion as the only 100% accuracy method of birthcontrol… I can’t answer the question.. I’m still in shock by the answers of the pro-choicers that are not even concerned what their “choice” is doing to our society.
^ She wasn’t old enough to make the decision to have sex. That is the point.
I guess the parents, legally have the right. Morally that is fucked up
So where were the parents when she was out with some guy? And why did they let her out at 13???? This is a sucky situation for the 13 year old with no right or wrong answer. My god, a girl barely has hips at 13!!
I think the 13 year old. I see where the parents are coming from since it would be dangerous for her to have the kid (well, it would be dangerous either way), but overall it still is HER body, HER life, HER choice and HER child. Even though this person is young, they still need to be given room to make that kind of life-impacting and life-changing choice themself.
Neither. No one should ever perform an abortion.
The 13 year old. It’s her body, her baby, her decision. This is ridiculous.
(I’m probably biased though, because I’m pro-life, so I side with the girl. I’d probably be more torn if the parents wanted her to have it and she wanted to abort it.)
what the heck does a 13 year old know?!?!?!?! i think even twenty-something’s are still immature with making decisions.
The girl, not her parents.
Her parents could at least be logical and allow the girl to have the child so the girl can know what it’s like to be a parent, have a job (if she has one), go to school, raise her kid, etc.
The 13 year old.
No questions about it.
It’s her right, even if she’s a minor. Not the parents’, not the boyfriend’s, her’s. I can’t imagine how psychologically damaging it must be to have an abortion forced upon you.
That’s awful. I’m sorry for that poor little girl – that she was pregnant and that such evil would be done against her will. We live in a desperately twisted world, so beautiful and so wracked with horror.
I think the thirteen year old should make the decision, but the parents are being more sensible here. Thirteen years old is way too young to become a mother.
Is it the parents’ bodies? No. It’s the girl’s. Her decision. Not anyone elses.
It’s the parents who will have to raise & pay for that baby, not the 13 year old, so yes, it should be there decision, but forcing an abortion on this girl might traumatize her, so maybe they should reach an agreement, like having the baby, but putting it up for adoption?
I suppose she also wants a Wii. Does it make her mature enough to keep a baby, raise and support it?
Depends, if the 13-year old girl did not want to have an abortion and her parents said she had to, it should be the girls decision. But if the girl wanted and abortion and her parents wanted to keep the baby, I’d say the parents should make the choice. But I’m biased for preserving life, so you shouldn’t ask me that question.
It’s all so much easier if you just wait until marriage to have sex. Why is a 13-year old having getting pregnant again?
Her body. Her baby. Her choice.
If the parents want to make her care for it, that’s fine.
But it’s her body.
Whatever happened to the good ol’ Roman days when the Paterfamilias could decide the fate of all his children and wife. Daughter pregnant before marriage? Kill the bitch!
the parents. any idiot can see that. she’s just a 13 year old slut, what would she know??
What about the father? Doesn’t he have anything to say in the matter?!
You should do fake one where the girl wants to get the abortion and parents don’t.
i say the girl should. she would probably regret it later, but at least she is taking responsibility for hte action.
the parents.
but uh.. WHY IS A 13 YEAR OLD GIRL HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT ABORTION???!?!
it was her parents fault that she was pregnant anyway, cuz they didn’t teach her how to act.
sigh…
At thirteen, her parents are the ones who are going to have to take care of it. I say it’s the parents’ choice.
No one should force an abortion.
“Neither! I say God should.
Posted 2/20/2007 4:06 PM by XristosAnesti”
All parties involved should decide that it’s a really bad idea. I’ll bet that’s what the baby thought anyway.
o__o Even though it’s kinda dumb that the 13-year-old has a baby in the first place, I think she has enough sense herself at her age(this is coming from a biased 14-year-old) to know whether or not she wants to keep the baby.
Wow.
SEE that’s what’s fucked up about parent’s choosing.
It’s a big tragedy when parents MAKE their 13 old girl get an abortion
It’s also a big tragedy when they don’t let her, either.
abortion is wrong, wether she wanted to abort it or not, but the girl should have been able to keep the baby
what the heck does a 13 year old know?!?!?!?! i think even twenty-something’s are still immature with making decisions.
Posted 2/20/2007 4:38 PM by allexjane
I think forcing someone to get an abortion is a little more serious than ‘what does a 13 yr old know”
Depending on her views her parents are forcing her to commit murder. …
PRO CHOICE!!!! It’s HER body, let her decide. Keep your laws off my body! Posted 2/20/2007 4:17 PM by heh_heh_ur_weird
How ironic that the pro-choicers (myself included) are against abortion in this case.
if you’re old enough to get pregnant, then you should be old enough to realize the gravity of the situation.
just because they screwed up didn’t make the life inside her worthless….that’s a soul..and I consider it murder, and she obviously did too..
she should have been able to decide, and at least give it up for adoption.
I don’t blame her for going suicidal..
this is what society does today tho…”have safe sex, and oops! if you screw up, abort it! and do it all over again” murder.
it’s her body, she’s going to have to live with her parent’s decision the rest of her life, and an abortion is traumatizing for women of any age. and she’s probably going to detest her parents for it. i think the parents should’ve let her have the baby, and then have her give it up for adoption.
Fight Mental Illness Stigma
No one. Abortion should be illegal.
individual case call – in another time, she would have married and begun her family at thirteen – don’t think anyone but the folks involved in the situation can have much to say – i’d like to never see abortion as the answer…glad judge isn’t in my job description
the thirteen year old. That is dreadful. I am prochoice, and that in no way is prochoice. Thats absolutely dreadful
“the parents. any idiot can see that. she’s just a 13 year old slut, what would she know??
Posted 2/20/2007 4:47 PM by uhohishkaze”
Way to be ignorant.
oh god, yeah i agree with you comawhitex
P.S. I write questions like this in notes on Facebook and this is a really great one. I’m going to borrow it and credit it to you and put your link up, since I doubt you want to bother commenting on my page. (You get like a million comments to read a day!) If you do have an objection, please do tell me and I’ll take it down. Thanks!
I think, Dan, you found a post almost (sad that it is almost in this case) everyone can agree on…even if the reasons for agreeing do vary.
Derek
abortion is murder – im sorry shes 13 but that doesnt change that fact
Even though the 13-year-old is more grown up now than she’s even been before, she still has a lot of growing up to do. Like it or not, adolescence is still the final stage of childhood, and teenagers still need their parent’s guidance and instruction about a lot of things.
So if the teenager wants to choose A but the parents want to choose B, then generally speaking B should be upheld. Generally speaking.
For a dilimma like this, here’s what I’d say.
Neither the teenager nor the parents should choose whether the innocent fetus lives or dies. The 13-year-old should carry the child. This doesn’t put her life or health in undue harm, since labor can always be induced if the pregnancy becomes dangerous.
Once the child is born, the teenager shouldn’t have custody of it (I mean, him or her). She just doesn’t have enough social maturity to make child-rearing decisions.
If the teenager’s parents want to accept custody, then they can pay for the OBGYN costs. If they are too poor to pay, society and charity should help them out.
If the teenager’s parents don’t want to accept custody, then adoptive parents should be identified. The adoptive parents can pay the doctor’s bills and such. It shouldn’t be difficult to find adoptive parents; since there are waiting lists filled with prequalified couples ready to adopt a baby.
I’ll concede that being the parents of a pregnant teenger is no walk in the park. But there is a way to overcome the difficulties and rise up to the challenge. Instead, they’re choosing what they think is the “easy way out”. In the process, they’ve actually traumatized their daughter far more severely than if they had let her continue with the pregnancy.
..
she wanted the baby.
it’s her’s!
parents.. =[
abortion=baddd
id would say the parents but since they’re dumb then the girl
thats horrible. Its the girls desicion.
the 13 year old. she made the decision to have sex. she made the decision to be an adult, she should be the one to choose whether she has the child or not.
Ahahahaha1
If the 13 year old wants an abortion, the 13 year old.
If the parents want an abortion, the parents.
If no one wants an abortion, everyone goes to prison…
To save baby polar bears.
if she was old enough to have sex and have the baby then she is old enough to decide for herself~
but i still dont understand the concept of having sex and carrying a child at the age of 13
oh baby!~
I’m pro life. Being a former embryo, and being a Christian, I don’t think that abortion is a choice. There is always someone who is willing to adopt when a party is decides that they don’t want a child. But that aside, the parents should NOT be able to FORCE abortion.
Whatever she wants. She should have a support system whether it be outreached beyond direct family. Suicide is a common thing and shouldn’t cross a person’s mind. If it does go see a dr….I’m sensing that this girl has had issues…..It’s a tough subject….I don’t know really……
the girl should have been allowed to have her baby — even if her parents didn’t want her to. this could scar her for the rest of her life, not to mention that she may not be able to live with the guilt.. and, at 13, it IS actually safe for her give birth – contrary to many ignorantly-taught beliefs. (i personally think that’s waaaaaay too young) – but then again – if she’s old enough to have sex, she’s old enough to raise a child. especially if she decided that she WANTED the baby. a 13 year-old girl not far from here birthed and killed her baby because she was so young and was afraid that people would find out she’d had one. the 13-year-old in this article showed maturity, that she made the decision to keep her baby.
Although I’m Pro-Choice, I think it is the parents’ decision.
once she is thoroughly educated about what it will be like to have a child at her age, and if she still promises she wants to go through with it, she by all means should be able to have her baby.
pro-choicers can’t say no to this one.
it’s her body, right?
the 13-year-old! Why would they force her to kill her baby? There are tons of families who would love to have her baby-alive
The girl should be able to decide. Should she be pregnant in the first place, no, but that’s a moot point, not even worth discussing.
To have a law that not only dictates what you can and cannot do to your body, but also takes such a major decision out of your hands is wrong. It’s not just wrong, it’s fucking evil. Think about what that girl went through. It’s worse then rape, and it’s legal.
People are evil.
Why the hell was a 13-year-old pregnant in the first place?!
They shouldn’t force her. Her parents should definitely have some say, but depending on the situation. I, myself am pro-life. They could have given up the baby for adoption to a loving family. Her parents should definitely have some say. And they shouldn’t let her raise it. The girl obviously doesn’t have any common sense if she’s getting pregnant at thirteen. She could have had the emergency contraceptive and condoms are not that expensive.
Why is she getting pregnant in the first place?
there is no way she should have been forced to have that abortion….abortions should be generally outlawed. In 99% of the cases the abortions are for convenience, not because of rape or medical problems. In most cases you made the decision to have sex, therefore you should have to have the kid. But the father should have to be there for the kid also.
To all you people that say its the parents choice…you make me sick.
Youre gonna tell me that the parents should decided whether or not she should keep the baby?!? IT’S HER BODY!!! Women have rights, and they should be protected. And if you argue that she is not a woman, then I think its time we moved for rights for minors, because I would never give up my kid if my parents told me to. No sir…
sad that there’s even a choice
Interesting what a flip this is from the debate we’re having in the United States, where we’re fighting over whether a 13-year-old should even have to INFORM her parents that she’s getting an abortion. Can’t remember ever saying I was Pro-Choice, but I’ll be hypocritical and make an exception in this case: the choice should be the girl’s.
Umm…that’s pretty young. The parents might have a point. I mean having a baby could KILL her at that age.
god
We wouldn’t need abortion if these stupid kids would stop having sex.
Her parents should be making the call. Why would a 13 yr old want a baby? Mary did, but in her time 13 yr olds were much more mature and responsible.
I am seventeen and I still don’t know how to tie my shoelaces.
eewwww 13 year olds having sex
eeeeeeeewwwwww
seriously how could that POSSIBLY be fun.
“oh i wear a trainer bra and my boyfriend’s penis is 2 inches long… yeehaw.”
as far as i’m concerned, that thirteen-year old is nowhere near old enough to be self-sufficient, let alone able to raise a child. her child will most likely become the responsibility of her parents, which means that her parents have the right to decide what to do with the child.
well sense it was her baby and her body, then no, they shouldnt have to make the decesion of whiether or not she should have the abortion, even though thirteen is a young age…
Pro Life – Keep your laws off the baby.
13 Year Old.
by the way, as a general question to people who think abortion should be illegal because you personally believe it is wrong…
have you ever logically thought out the results of making abortion illegal?? there will be people who can’t afford to have a baby, who made a mistake, who won’t be able to go to a doctor to get a safe, healthy abortion. those people will probably attempt to perform an abortion themselves– the baby dies anyway, the life and health of the pregnant woman is endangered, etc… so how about if you all just promise not to kill your own babies, and let other people decide what they want to do with their own chromosomes.
usually I would say the parents, but I don’t think anyone should be forced to have an abortion.
The girl should decide.
the thirteen year old should be the one making the CHOICE.
i would say 13 year old, but she’s too young to be pregnant, anyway. it is her body and her baby, though.
The girl, but her parents should have to approve it. Personally I don’t think she should have the right to abortion, but if she has to have the right…
the one whos pregnent.
I would love to know where her parents were when she was getting knocked up.
I would be in favor of the part opposing abortion. In this case, the 13 year old.
If this was a my daughter… I would expect her to have the baby. Abortion would not be an option in my household. BUT… if she expected to keep it, she would be the one doing the work. Don’t think you’ll get to continue being a kid with no repsonsibilities…you will reap what you have sown.
Otherwise… adoption it is. But abortion? No.
The parents and the daughter should have come to a better decision. No abortion whatsoever! They could have helped raise the baby. They could have placed the baby in a home until the girl was old enough to take responsibility for it. They could have adopted the child out. This isn’t something that is going to “go away” like the parents might wish. This will haunt their daughter all her life. Why did an innocent life have to suffer and die because of foolish decisions? Ohhhh…
The 13 year old. I would say the same thing if she wanted the abortion, but her parents wanted her to have it. She’s the one who has to go through 9 months of pregnancy.
also, she’s the one having sex. She should be allowed to pay for her actions either way.
The Parents should have had better communitation with their daughter or she wouldnt have wound up in this situation !
So- well Hell YES- If My kid did it at 13 =YES I would have said Get rid of it, and had my daughter in therapy before the procedure and after !
of course, the parents.
if tht girl was dumb enough to get knocked up [well the guy who impregnated her is equally stupid], she ought to leave something up to her parents to decide.
Let God decide. Hah. That’s a REAL good answer. How do we let God decide? Light a fire an read the ashes?
It’s the law: parents. It’s freaking Italy. What does it matter?
To all you people that say its the parents choice…you make me sick.
Youre gonna tell me that the parents should decided whether or not she should keep the baby?!? IT’S HER BODY!!! Women have rights, and they should be protected. And if you argue that she is not a woman, then I think its time we moved for rights for minors, because I would never give up my kid if my parents told me to. No sir…
Posted 2/20/2007 6:20 PM by MexicoDFA127
I believe 13 year-olds are minors, and therefore have no rights
I believe the parents should have more say in it than the girl does, since they mostly likely would be the ones taking care of the child.
hm it’s weird.. i dont seem to care either way.
I’m pro-Life so I think the women should decided!!!…but she is extremely young…I still say she should decided
What a very difficult moral position to be in…
I’m going to side with the pro-choicers on this one though. It is her child, and she should have the ultimate say…then again, I’m anti-abortion, so I don’t think abortion should be a choice to begin with…
ADOPTION!
It’s the law: parents. It’s freaking Italy. What does it matter?
Posted 2/20/2007 7:56 PM by ryoma136
The question isn’t “What is the law?” The question is “Who should….”
no one should have to decide.
if abortion were illegal we wouldn’t have this issue.
I can’t help but wonder if there is more to the story. Like maybe incest?
Neither. The girl should have made the decision not to have sex if she didn’t want the baby.
The parents should have kept her from having sex if they didn’t want her to have the baby.
Now that she’s having the baby, she should have it.
Maybe she is too young to be pregnant… but the reality is, she IS pregnant. And it’s her baby, in her body. If she wants to keep the baby, let her make that decision. Isn’t part of being a parent supporting your child even when they’ve made a mistake?
child
I think that if you are having sex and get pregnant you should be able to choose if you wish to have the baby…but you also should be legally responsible for the baby. No, well I had the baby, but I am a minor so you have to help me raise it. If you are a big enough grown up to spread your legs and get knocked up then you should be big enough to raise it on your own. I think they chose the way they did because every parent knows they would wind up raising the child.
Bigger question is why is a 13 having sex? Hopefully they arrested the guy who got her pregnant. Why didn’t she file to be emancipated??? That would allow her to make the decision. Sounds like she didn’t really do anything in her defense.
Posted 2/20/2007 4:10 PM by OutandAboutTown
PRO CHOICE!!!! It’s HER body, let her decide.
Keep your laws off my body!
Posted 2/20/2007 4:17 PM by heh_heh_ur_weird
I concur.
Honestly though, she should be made to think of the consequences of her actions. I wonder what made her stupid enough to get knocked up at such a young age.
I’m with Dennis_the_Peasant on this one.
1. Obvious reasons aside, why is this 13 year old GIRL pregnant?
2. Can we expect a 13 yr old girl to be functional as a mother?
We are dealing with Italian law, not American. There are differences in custom and law and we should try to understand those first before passing judgment or expecting the Italians to adhere to our mores and laws.
Damn.
Her parents. A 13 year old cannot properly look after a baby. A 13 year old should also not be having sex.
“13 year olds should not be having sex.”
That’s the resounding cry.
It’s true… but you can scream that all you like, she still did, she’s still pregnant. Oops.
Her parents might make her give it up, but they shouldn’t make her abort it.
that’s just tragic in all circumstances
The law is the law.
Whoever says to have the abortion.
I think she’d have died if anyone decided otherwise. You know, from giving birth so young.
So…
Italy’s pushing for a global death penalty ban, and yet wants to let the parents force their child to abort her baby? Rather than just putting it up for adoption, if they really didn’t want anything to do with it…
Save the murderers, kill the babies?
I’m so confused.
Holy crap, the poor kid!!
I’m pro choice but that also includes letting the mother choose to KEEP her baby, even if she’s not much older than a child herself… her parents’ right to absolute control over her body ended as soon as she was born, IMO. They should have done a better job of raising her and making sure she didn’t get pregnant in the first place.
No one should EVER be forced to have an abortion if well informed of the consequences involved at any age.
the other thing too is that you can die from having an abortion just as much as having the baby…there’s less danger now than there has been…urban legends.
She ought to, ultimately she is the one that has to suffer with the consequences–either the consequences of having a child at the very young age of 13, or having to go through birth and giving up the child for adoption…or deal with the potentially devastating emotional consequences of having an abortion. Her parents should offer their opinion in the matter and counsel as they see fit.
^ Play_up said, “have you ever logically thought out the results of making abortion illegal?? there will be people who can’t afford to have a baby, who made a mistake, who won’t be able to go to a doctor to get a safe, healthy abortion. those people will probably attempt to perform an abortion themselves– the baby dies anyway, the life and health of the pregnant woman is endangered, etc… so how about if you all just promise not to kill your own babies, and let other people decide what they want to do with their own chromosomes.”
Actually, I have thought quite a bit about it. And your implied conclusion is correct. Simply outlawing abortion without making other changes to law and society would create new problems. So, those of us who call ourselves pro-life must dedicate ourselves not only to ending legalized abortion, but also to follow through with the other changes that will be necessary in order to alleviate those problems.
If a woman can’t afford to have a baby … then there are tons of ready couples willing to adopt a newborn and pay for the related costs. Couples are even accepting newborns that they know are handicapped or mentally retarded. Couples are going to great lengths and no small expense to adopt babies from other countries!
You asked, “so how about if you all just promise not to kill your own babies.” That’s easy enough to explain.
How would you respond if someone said, “how about if you all just promise not to beat your own wives”? I bet you’d say that no matter who’s doing the wifebeating, it’s wrong and it should be punished by law.
How would you respond if someone said, “how about if you all just promise not to burn down your own neighbor’s house (but don’t tell me that I can’t burn down my own neighbor’s house)”? I bet you’d say that nobody should be allowed to burn down his neighbor’s house.
As a society, the people have stood up to say that certain behaviors are called “crimes” and that crimes should be punished. Things like wifebeating and arson are classified as crimes. All that we pro-lifers want is for the list of behaviors that are called “crimes” to be expanded, to include killing a human being in its fetal stage of development (just like how killing a child or teenager or middle-aged person or senior citizen is already illegal).
As far as keeping abortion safe by keeping it legal … let’s go back to the wifebeating example. What if we legalized wifebeating in order to make it safe? Maybe the clinics could pass our foam mallets for men to beat their wives with? That way at least they’re using something soft instead of something like metal or hard wood? That’s plain absurd.
No, I bet you’d say that wifebeating is horrific and how can anybody seriously support making it legal? That’s how I look at abortion. It’s every bit as horrific as wifebeating, yet society allows legalized abortion and even pays for it.
If there are other problems created as “side effects” to making abortion illegal, so be it. At least those are lesser problems than covering our society’s hands with another 4,000 people’s blood every day.
Parents should be making choices for a 13-year-old. Specially in this area.
However, I’m very pro-life.
no one should be forced into an abortion….can you imagine how scared that poor child will be for life (yes, i agree she was too young to be pregnant, but that is neither here nor there)….they should have put it up for adoption…I don’t believe you can tell any woman (no matter the age) and I am not a strict *pro lifer*(abortion would just never be MY choice)….but that girl who is still a child herself would maybe have a better time dealing knowing her child was healthy and happy somewhere…
That’s a ridiculous question.
Geez, I barely knew how sex worked when I was 13.
it is rong to kill your baby.
Well, I guess it partly depends on whether or not she just wanted to have it or keep it. Her parents (nor the court) shouldn’t have been allowed to force her to have the abortion, but they do have the right to say whether she can keep it or not, since they’ll be the primary ones taking care of it for her as she grows up.
if you are old enough to have consensual sex, you should be old enough to make the decisions about the consequences. For me though, rape an dincest cases are always exceptions…
the 13 year old!
Neither. The government. And the answer should be no.
Posted 2/20/2007 4:05 PM by cincyredsfan38
Ridiculous. The GOVERNMENT? I believe the 13 year old should choose. But even ‘the parents’ is a more sane choice in my opinion than THE GOVERNMENT. Hell NO should they be allowed to control any woman’s body.
hmm.. a tuff 1.. id say its the girl’s call..
SANCTUARY! Where was the Church in all this? In ITALY? OMG
you know if they don’t want to keep it she could have it and give it up for adoption. but i think the parents should definitely consider their daughter’s wishes and also the fact that they’d be killing their grandchild.
No one should force an abortion. It’s HER body, let her decide.
she made the decision to have sex, I think she was able to make the decision to have the child. Her parents were wrong to force her into something as damaging as an abortion.
it’s sad that children are having children.
Apparently it depends entirely upon which country you reside.
It is really unhealthy for a 13 year old to be pregnant, but to be forced into having an abortion? That’s just completely barbaric.
the thirteen year old. sounds like she has better sense than her parents
Wow… Nobody should be forced to have an abortion.
I believe 13 year-olds are minors, and therefore have no rights
Posted 2/20/2007 7:57 PM by ryoma136
I believe the West Virginians and the Welsh are Miners, and therefore have no rights.
There are other options, such as adoption. She shouldn’t be forced to have an abortion.
She shouldn’t have gotten pregnant in the first place.
There’s no such thing as a mystery
Anything can be solved thinking logically
Magic and miracles don’t exist
You may not believe it
But I insist
Cuz I’m Dr. Mick, The scientist
sounds like some incest family
If the girl isn’t responsible enough to practice abstinence then she isn’t responsible enough to decide whether she has an abortion or not. She’s demonstrated in the past that she can’t make mature decisions so she shouldn’t have the right to have a say in such a weighty conflict.
re: comments like above~~why keep the laws off her body but not her babies?? I never got that one. That is a real itty-bitty human growing in there who also has rights…nobody should ever be forced to kill someone…esp. their own child/flesh. God help her to heal her!
Man.
Interesting to read people’s opinions. I think it is ALWAYS up to the female to decide about the child. They may want to examine who the father is (if it was rape or molestation or if there’s a problem with drugs, etc.). Ultimately the female should decided whether to give birth or not. The courts should back her up. But since it’s not our country what can you do???
NO ONE should be forced to have an abortion. . .Ever.
if she was old enough to make the decision to have sex, then she should be able to make the decision of what to do with her baby.
hm thats hard
A lot of people keep saying it’s “her body, her decision” then why can’t she decide to commit suicide, killing her own body? (Just pointing out how that saying can be twisted.)
or “She’s old enough to decide for herself” … old enough? Ha. She’s 13. Let me repeat that. She’s 13.Mm, let’s think about that one more time for good measure. She’s 13.
How on earth was it allowed that she be put in a situation to become pregnant anyway?
To actually answer the question: I don’t think abortion should be a choice for the 13 year old, or the parents. It’s an emotionally scarring event, for any aged woman (though sometimes it doesn’t show up till later in life). And physically it causes problems later on.
Tricky. I’m all for personal rights on this issue, but most 13 y/o aren’t very mature… It IS her body, but that’s kind like saying she can get a tattoo if she wants because it’s her body. Her parents just want what’s best for her.
she will never forgive her parents.
what a sad story
She should have to deal with the consequences of her actions.
The 13-year-old.. abortion is soo wrong so of course she should have it! Of course she shouldn’t have had the baby MADE in the first place..
Holy crap!! What is wrong with this world.
The parents had no right to make her kill the baby. If she wanted to have it, she should be able to keep it.
I think the girl should decide, but the parents should be informed.
The parents. A 13 year old is incapable of caring for a child and can not financially support it. But she should some say in it. I mean, the parents should consider her wants and her side before making the decision.
i think she should have the baby. but give it up for adoption.
of course her young body most likely isnt ready to go through the pains of child birth.
This poor little girl. She and her baby are more victims of abortion. If her parents can force an abortion, how come they could not force her chastity?
why was she out fucking around inthe first place?
young kids should stick to their pokemons, runescapes, and playstation games?
and people in Africa have kids at 13.
i dnt understand why everyone is so shocked about a 13 year old getting pregnant… it actually happens alot & nobody takes it to the law to see if she should have an abortion or not?? why did this one?? thats really odd & i think they should all compromise to get the right decision.. murdering a life is not a descion that is jus MADE for you!
to answer play_up: if the woman can’t afford having the baby she could just give it up for adoption, she wouldnt need to try to kill the baby herself…
That’s a really hard question… I think she made the right choice in wanted to keep her baby, and her parents should have supported her in that choice. If her parents were so set against the baby, they could have made her give her child up for adoption. But never kill it!
out of control kid.
i would let her keep it and learn her lesson…
Neither! Abortion should be illegal because it is murder. But Christians should lay down their lives to help girls like that – let her live with them, if necessary, if her parents aren’t willing to help her and her baby.(Parents in the US pressure their teenage girls to get abortions all the time – it’s just not legal for them to force their daughters to get abortions.)
Her parents. Yes, everyone needs to decided what to do with their own body- but look at that oh so smart thing she did to LEAD her there. SHE’S 13. Her parents should be the final choice. She’s too young to do that on her own. Keep and it and do what, raise a kid- SHE IS A KID.
The girl.
parent’s need to BUTT OUT.
-Jacob
I’d say the parents should have to force her to have the baby.
Then she’ll learn her lesson.
the parents, but because they are going to be the primary caregivers
a baby isn’t a doll
a 13 year old cannot be a proper guardian
God Should!!! And hopefully the parents pray because they will be the ones raising two children if she has it.
If a 13 year old is already pregnate isn’t it a little late for the parents to decided they want to start parenting her? Shouldn’t they have been that worried about what she was doing with her body before she got pregnate.
This is messed up… I don’t know how to answer this because I don’t agree with abortions at all.
Murder is the deliberate killing of an innocent person. Abortion is the deliberate killing of a fetus. A fetus is an innocent person. Therefore, abortion is murder.
13 year old decides.
parents… shes under 18 and too young to have child.
why is she having sex anyways … its ridiculous… at 13 ur supposed to giggle over the popular boy at school and have your first kiss and awkward dances and sweaty hand holding . not having sex!
its sad that childhood is rushing to such a horrible destruction
and to all the pple who think it should be the 13yr old’s choice ….. go have a kid and when she gets prego at 13 then go and comment ….. no one wants a 13 to have a child.
a 13 yr old cant even have a fucking job!!!!! HELLOOOOO you wanna pay for your 13 yr olds kid?!?!? do you??? NO!?!
you people are disturbing at best ….
let the 13 yr old keep a fucking child,
what is wrong with society that they are willing to let a 13yr old keep a baby thats NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY!!!!
WHAT 13YR OLD HAS THE BRAINPOWER TO DECIDE ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
im sorry but you all are fuckin retarded and the whole abortion thing is gettin rIdiculous …..
YOU DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE ABORTION ILLEGAL JUST BECAUSE IT OFFENDS YOUR SO CALLED RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
fuck religion.
the 13 year old. It’s her baby and her body, she should be given the choice to decide for herself.
well i have a 14 year old that i think that is pregnat and i will not make her kill it but i will make her give it away if i dont think she is going to take care of it because it isnt the childs failt that it was brought in this life