May 16, 2011
-
Abortion At the Age of 16
Parents in New Zealand were upset to find out that school teachers, nurses and counselors were assisting underage students in getting abortions without their parents consent.
Teachers in New Zealand are not allowed to reveal health information to parents because of privacy issues. Here is the link: Link
Should a 16 year old girl be able to get an abortion without her parent’s permission?
Comments (142)
Absolutely. It’s her body.
Yes.
Without their permission? Yes. Without the parents even knowing about it? Absolutely not.
It depends on what age they’re considered adults. If it’s 16, then by all means, let them do as they wish.
Kids in the USA can do it on their own depending on the situation.
Yes, once she has received counseling on the impacts and possible alternatives. Abortion is serious and should only be undertaken upon sober reflection.
@WondersCafe - In Virginia, if the parents deny consent, or the juvenile can show that it would endanger her to notify her parents, a judge can give the consent.
Abortion is surgery, what kind of parent would be okay with their kid getting surgery without their permission? Seriously?! I don’t know what the laws are in New Zealand, but since the US faces a similar dilemma about minors getting abortions, I have to ask…why do you need to be 18 to join the army, to vote, and kill yourself with cigarettes, but getting a child sucked out of you when you’re still a child yourself is perfectly ok? People make no sense.
most definitely yes.
As long as parents aren’t held accountable for any costs related to complications, I say fine.
@JeffersonJunior - I was thinking along those lines. Good work.
But heavens no they need a parent to take antiboitics
It’s her body, I’d like to know why not. I think they’re making responsible decisions, their parents shouldn’t dictate whether or not they give birth to a child so it shouldn’t matter if they (the parents) consent or not.
Totally.
This is a situation where the parents should have an abortion… a post-birth abortion 16 years after birth.
I think they should be allowed to have one without there parents consent, do I think they should inform their parents yes but they don’t need too. As long as each women/girl goes through the necessary counseling and information sessions that allows them to come to the right decision for themselves, it should be legal.
At least in the US, it boils down to if you are not in danger or someone else is in danger because of you, they are not allowed to say anything. NOW…I know some people will say killing an unborn child is harmful, but there are MANY circumstances that need to be taken into consideration before spilling such beans to parents. Some parents could abuse/harm/kill their child for even getting pregnant. And why should the girl have to suffer that, and the boy doesn’t have any potential danger like that?
Now, I know this wasn’t the question, but I don’t really think the school should be helping. I didn’t read the article, but what you’ve written doesn’t say if they were being done at school or if the girls were given information on where they could go for an abortions. If it’s the latter, it’s not the school’s place to say a thing. If it’s the former, I definitely don’t think the school should be performing such things. If the school cannot prescribe my child medication, they should not be performing abortions!
@sarahzthoughts - Not all abortions are surgery…nor do they all require children being sucked out of bodies. Not starting a fight, just stating facts.
@PoetMcChick - Regardless of the technicalities, it’s still a procedure with a significant amount of risks, a lot more risks than getting a tattoo or a piercing, and you need to be 18 to get those, so why is abortion considered less significant?
I absolutely do not think they should be getting abortions. Then for a child to have an abortion without parental knowledge and without parental consent is undermining parents. If they’re “grown up” enough for an abortion then they’re grown up enough to get out on their own. If they’re adult enough to engage in sexual relations & exclude their parents from something as major as abortion, then they need to be adult enough to get the heck out on their own and make ALL their own decisions.
absolutely.
Yes.
@Rob_of_the_Sky - this is why when I run for office I am going to propose legislation for parents to have retroactive abortions for up to 18 years.
i inform my dad when i ejaculate.
Yes, she should be able to get an abortion without her parent’s consent but not without their knowledge, unless the abortion clinic plans to follow up daily on how she is doing after. It is surgery after all.
Oh I thought this post was going to be about aborting 16 year olds. How many trimesters is that?
its her body.
Generally speaking, no.
The assumption is that the mother is in the best position to understand the circumstances of and to judge the well being of her daughter. There are many cases when the mother doesn’t have her child’s best interest in mind, and an abortion is probably better overall for the child. Many jurisdictions allow judges to intervene and act as neutral decision makers. So the mother’s voice is the matter shouldn’t necessarily be the end of the matter.
Most states seem to put adulthood at 18. Legally a young man or woman gains full autonomy at that age. It’s a bit arbitrary, so I guess that’s why in many places, judges may make case-by-case assessments.
There are reasons that we take the rights to drive, gamble, drink, and owning arms away from children. We understand that, for the most part, they lack the stability, the depth of experience, and the perspective to make the best decisions for their lives. 16 is at the cusp of adulthood, and I’m sure many young women may, at that age, make good decisions– perhaps better than other women at 18, 19, or 20. But as a rule, I think it’s good policy to require approval of the mother– if not, then perhaps a judge.
No
@sarahzthoughts - I agree it is a contradiction and the parents should be aware. However, if it means they will force her into having a child she does not want.. Also, if the pregnancy is early, surgery is not necessary, you can merely swallow a pill these days.
Nope.
I don’t know what the “age of consent” or legal adulthood is in New Zealand, but in the US, it is 18 – until the child turns 18, we parents must still sign consent forms for them to go on field trips, try out for a sport, or be allowed to take ibuprofen at school for menstrual cramps. The schools will not let them do anything without a parents’ signature and permission and a bunch of forms filled out first. Why would I want my daughter to have any kind of medical intervention without my consent? Especially something that is usually is same-day surgery? Abortion is not without risks and complications, and it’s a whole lot more involved than taking tylenol or asthma medication. It’s just not in the child’s best health and safety interests – that’s why schools won’t even administer medication without a bunch of forms filled out by both parents and the child’s doctor.
@brrraaaiiins - “It’s her body, I’d like to know why not. I think they’re making responsible decisions, their parents shouldn’t dictate whether or not they give birth to a child so it shouldn’t matter if they (the parents) consent or not.”
Who do you suppose would be taking care of the infant after its born? The unemployed live-at-home 16-year-old without a high-school diploma? Or, perhaps, the mother of the 16-year-old?
@sarahzthoughts - “Abortion is surgery, what kind of parent would be okay with their kid getting surgery without their permission?…”
Most Emergency Rooms in the U.S. probably wouldn’t suspend life-saving operation on a child until the signing of a permission slip.
The emotional and physical tolls as well as the life-effecting concenquences of carrying a child to term is probably unlike those of elective surgery. Sometimes, parents can be too negligent, absent, stupid, or incompetent to decide in the best interest of their child.
If a 16-year-old child were raped and brutalized by her biological father, I wouldn’t put it all on the whims and prejudices of the mother.
@waygook - “…Also, if the pregnancy is early, surgery is not necessary, you can merely swallow a pill these days.”
Good point. sarahzthoughts should also be glad knowing that falling-down-the-stairs is another surgery-less alternative.
And you racist.
@Da__Vinci - agreed. if they want to make their own decision, then any other aftermath responsibilities is their own.
I’m against it but yes they should be able to do it without parent consent…
@Celestial_Teapot - Wait so that means they shouldn’t be allowed to have an abortion? I don’t understand how that’s a point. Of course the parents might be taking the role of raising the infant more than the 16-year-old, but what does that have to do with the 16-year-old aborting the child in the first place? No one would have to raise it if it were aborted, so please elaborate at what you’re getting at?
Heck no. Abortions are dangerous and risky procedures. I have to cover my minor’s medical insurance. This is most definitely something a parent needs to be aware of.
First off, if they willing have sex they shouldnt be allowed to have an abortion. You accept the fact you can get pregnant when you start having sex. Im against abortion 100% although there are some situations i understand. Secondly, the idea of a girl getting an abortion without her parents knowing isnt right, it obviously shows the girls are hiding what there doing behind there parents back.
A normal bracelet for that cheap watches may well Rolex patented oyster bracelet featuring a flip-lock clasp to insure that watch seriously isn’t dislodge while being worn.The trip-lock crown features three dots that represent this Triplock water seal feature.
@LovelureTheDecayed - So because you made a mistake you should be forced to live with it the rest of your life? Yes, because that makes a lot more sense. Every time you lie, you should be forced to wear a sign above your head saying your a liar? No because that is ridiculous. Mistakes happen, they shouldn’t be forced to live with it just because you don’t agree with the type of mistake they made. Sometimes no matter how careful you are during sex, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant. However it’s illogical to think married and unmarried people would abstain from sex based on a possibility they could get pregnant.
@MyTwoCentss - Setting aside your personal believes on abortion, you stated that it is undermining parents rights to parent there children. What about the young girls rights? Are her rights set aside or less important then the parents rights? In my eyes they are both equal, not all parents are good parents and some girls fear being beaten, forced to incubate the baby and possibly killed. If the young girls rights could be imposed by disclosing this to her parents, then I think a judge should rule on whether she has to inform the parents or not.
I believe having abortion is killing a living being. We all know theres a risk of pregnancy when we have sex. Thats just my opinion. Have sex, have risk?I understand not everyones going to agree with me, I dont expect that.
In 2003 replica watches uk presented life its Maori Collection at BaselWorld Fair. Yourrrre able to send creative change of direction caused a variety of doubts, but Franck Dubarry was determined to the moving towards innovation. There isn’t any doubt of which those change of a brand’s inventive strategy was caused by a planned, innovative evolution special with the charming touch of “craziness”.
No.
The reasons some states in America want to ilegalize abortion, is for religious reasons. These type of nasty christians need to all gather in one state and leave everyone else alone. We need to put all the black people in one area. We must draw new state borders and call them territories. The latinos can live in Florida territory. The anti social should be put in special facilities. New portals for making money should be discovered.
@sarahzthoughts - why is it better to have a child at all when you can’t even vote, buy cigarettes, join the army?
if they made a decision to have sex, they should be able to make decisions regarding the consequences.
and if they were forced to have sex, then they definitely shouldn’t be forced to have a child.
so, yeah, they should.
Absolutely no – parents should have rights and authority.
Yes, but the parents must know about the situation!
@Randy7777 - what about the rights of children? Young girls aren’t the sole property of their parents and have rights and needs also. What if a girl is in a situation where telling her parents might harm her or thy force her to keep the baby when it isn’t the right decision for her?
@Me_LeaderoftheWorld - Take away the rights of parents and you have government raising children. The schools can take parents to court for not sending their 16 year to school and then take away their authority? It’s not right. Parents have to parent. If an abuse case is reported then we have the DSS for that. But it should not be in the argument of taking the authority away from a parent.
Nope. Plain and Simple, NO. And people can argue with me all they want, I still will stand by my answer, NO. I agree with @sarahzthoughts - The end.
@Randy7777 - However in this case it isn’t the government raising the young girl to go out and have sex and then have an abortion, these are choices she made on her own. I agree with the fact that parents should have authority, but we shouldn’t overlook the fact that teenagers are people too and deserve to have their own rights and make their own choices. Also, I’m not saying that the parents have to be abusive and would people consider a parent not letting their child have an abortion abuse?
i dunno. this is a tough one. naturally though if the school allowed MY daughter to have an abortion without my permission i’d be above and beyond pissed. it is not their child and they do not have that right. take it how you want, it is MY child and will be MY child until 18.
i guarantee the nurses aren’t even telling them all of their options, whereas i could do that. and they certainly aren’t looking for the best interest of the girls. the nurses are probably just pushing the abortions because, after all, it doesn’t look good on the school to have a bunch of pregnant 16 year olds waddling around. they probably also don’t go through all the risks that are involved, even if rare. but how could a 16 year old possibly fully understand the emotional trauma of being infertile at 16.
regardless though, my daughter should come to me. i feel the fault lies in the parents when the child is not comfortable enough to bring things like that to her parents. i’m hoping my daughter will feel comfortable enough because if someone else gives her permission to have an abortion (or anything else for that matter!) at such a young age they will be in a world of hurt. i can give her more options than just abortion.
This is a very slipper slop topic. As we can all see the conflict in interest amongst many people. I believe we are all entitled to our beliefs. and I dont think anyone should be offended by someone else’s opinion. its just that, an opinion. That being stated I will give mine on the subject. To me, once the fetus has a heart beat it is considered a human being. I don’t believe that schools should assist teenagers with their thoughts on abortion. I think they should educate them on what abortion means, morally, and if it is the right choice for them. That this choice could affect them for the rest of their life. I believe the parents should be able to discuss the idea with that teen and figure out if that is the right option for them. I am for abortion if the doctor prescribes it stating that it is in the mothers best interest if she wants to keep her life. That being a medical issue that the child will in the end kill the mother. Another is if the child is born with a devastating illness that would ultimately be the end of the child in early years, 1-3 years. what kind of life is it to live when the child is born so defective it cannot have a truly normal life? I also believe that if someone is raped, then they should have the right to make the choice. Now if its a healthy teen who just doesn’t want to own up to responsibility then I believe they shouldn’t abort the child. There is always adoption and tho it may be hard its much better for the child and a loving couple who unfortunately cannot conceive a child of their own. Children raising children is usually never a good thing but some can pull it off.
Ick. I don’t know. I’d like to say yes; that they should know in case there are complications. But…if the parents were hardcore against it… Some people are just insane and I don’t know that I trust them to act rationally…
@Me_LeaderoftheWorld - 16 year olds do not have the rights to drink alchol. So why should we allow them the choice of life and death? No, that’s why parents have authority over children until 18. The government makes me responsible for my child until 18, and wants to take away my authority in certain areas? It’s plain not right.
@filtered_sunlight@momaroo - The other option is the government – and they’re not insane? -lol
@Brilliant_Innocence - A big – AGREED
Wow, am I the only one that thinks that this is crazy?! Letting a 16 year old get an abortion with out parents consent? A 16 year old can not even begin to handle the emotional connection that comes on after an abortion, the possible mishaps during the abortion, or even just the idea that she can go out, have sex, if she gets pregnant than off to the local abortion clinic to get rid of it in time for the next party. What are we teaching these kids today.
No. A 16 year old isn’t mature enough to make a life ending decision. The guilt that accompanies an abortion will haunt you the rest of your life. It pops up every time you hear an infant cry, see a mother with a new baby, or even later when you have your own child, and someone innocently asks you, “is this your first?”. Even if you smile and say “Yes”, it flashes up in your mind. You can never completely forgive yourself, there is always doubt. Even if you are a religious person, and you and your church have convinced you that God has forgiven you, you still cannot. Not 100%.
This is a very heavy load to shoulder, a life changing decision to make, and the average 16 year old isn’t emotionally equipped to do that. They simply have not had enough life experience, they are still adolescents, their brains have not fully matured to encompass complete logical thought. At 16 you are more concerned about the color of your lipstick and eyeliner, who is going to the dance, what so-and-so is wearing, why your English teacher is such a witch, yada, yada… you are not thinking “childcare, medication, insurance, saving for college, baby clothes, food, endless diapers, toys” etc.
No, the inclination of the average 16 year old is “well, if I have an abortion then I don’t have to deal with all that, life can just go on, I can hit the party Friday night” etc. In real life, it doesn’t work that way. Dirty little secret that Planned Parenthood (Planned infanticide) never tells anyone…
Yes, there are exceptions. Rape, incest and so on. Those are the exception rather than the rule. Most of us a little farther along in life look back at our teen years and feel grateful we didn’t get pregnant. Because the vast majority have had intercourse by the time they hit 16 or 17. Some much younger. You mature rapidly from 18-20, and for all intents and purposes, are mature by 20. Actually it is believed to average about 24… which, with the educational setup in the U.S., allows one to get a Masters by that time, if you work at it… then you are in a far better position to have and raise that child, or if you so choose, fully understand the impact of having an abortion. You will still deal with the guilt the rest of your life tho…
@looking_inside_me - No you are not crazy. Look at the ages of those previously answering. Most are adolescent females. They do not have the life experience to see the big picture. Most people pre-25 are very liberal. As we age, work, marry, have kids, etc., we swing our views to a more conservative position, centrist. And a good number of us move even farther right as we build a career, savings, investment, become business leaders, employers rather than employees, etc. We see the harmful effects of liberal thinking, and short sightedness, which is what you are seeing here. Good Ol’ Dr. Spock…
It’s their body. I mean, I’m sure all parties would love it if the
parents would be notified but it’s not like they can force the girl to
bring the fetus to term. However, I’m really worried about how this
affects the perspective of abortion. I don’t think it’s a procedure one
should be getting all willy-nilly.
@godfatherofgreenbay - Sir, I will be voting for you.
@Ork58 - God I hope you are right, just seeing the ages of these kids here just gets me scared to know that they are thinking like this. I hope when they do become parents their views do change. Thanks for the small ray of hope in your comment.
@the_rocking_of_socks - i agree with this. There could be so many “aftershocks” she could be dealing with that the parents should know WHAT is going on.Whether or not the parents agree …they should still be able to be there to comfort their daughter
Her body, her decision.
I read this and thought you meant aborting a 16-year-old baby.
@exatreides - haha
16 year old girls should not be able to get abortions without their parents permission. At least one parent.
Yes. Their body, their rights.
I just hope my 16 year old would be able to talk to me about sensitive issues, and long before it got to this point.
Can we instead comment on the lack of education of children and the fading morals of our western society?
What if complications arise during the procedure, do the parents get to know about it then?
A sixteen year old cannot have other medical procedures without her parent consent. I think it should be required.
I think 15/16 is a good age to allow girls to get abortions without consent or having to inform their parents. This isn’t some cosmetic issue like getting a piercing or a tattoo, this is a medical one and you’re entitled to your privacy (this is for those that question why you need consent to those but not this).
I think it’s the schools responsibility to counsel these girls and if it comes to it they should give them information or phone numbers where they can get better informed. I think the only time a parent should be absolutely notified is when there are obvious issues (or if the school believes there are underlying problems). Like if a 12 year old showed up pregnant I’d be seriously concerned. Not about her wanting an abortion but because she is 12 and pregnant. At the point I’d suspect serious negligence or abuse.
I know of a situation where a religious home for teenage pregnancies took in a ten year old who was pregnant and allowed her to have the child, against medical advice. It was deemed that the child was too young physically and psychologically and that it could damage her entirely. Her parents wished for her to have the child and sent her there. The baby died anyway Later it was discovered the child was pregnant due to incestuous rape. The state was never involved. The young girl can never have children again due the impact on her small body. I cannot imagine what she is going through now, psychologically. This is why parents shouldn’t HAVE to be involved. Case by case basis.
@looking_inside_me - no, I agree. It is crazy. The parents need to know.
@Ork58 - I got an abortion at 17. No one in my family knows. The only people I tell are my closest friends and those here on xanga.
No guilt so far. I’ve had other pregnancy scares but now that I’m at the point where I feel if I did have a baby it wouldn’t totally ruin my life I have considered going ahead with it. Of course they were all scares but it still stands. I don’t feel guilty and it hasn’t caused any problems for me in my life. Please don’t try scaring people by acting like girls will come out scarred for life and forever asking, “What if…?” because I can assure you the majority of us DO move on with our lives. We get it, it’s done and over with, and we move on.
@FallingSafely - from your example it sounds like the girl should not have been in the parents custody and the authorities should have gotten involved. Definitely an unusual situation.
If the law says a 16 year old can get an abortion without family input, then yes. She can do what she wants.
hopefully we can educate our daughters and not come to that decision. i am against abortion but putting on my “spock” ears tells me that todays 16 year old female is not the same girl of 20 or even 10 years ago. her maturity and psychological health must be made first.her parents should have the right to know everything about her until she is 18. and all this mess because someone didn’t use BC.
Yep
@godfatherofgreenbay - @Rob_of_the_Sky - Nice.
I guess so.
If this little burdensome life form is “my body” why is the baby’s DNA unlike the mothers? If a baby is a male does the mother now have a penis? The reason a girl is afraid to tell the parents is because the parents were not aware that their teeny bopper was having sex while living under their roof, eating their food and depending on them while some male is taking advantage of them. Until the girl is indeed independent and a legal adult she is in no position to pretend to be an adult and sneaking around while driving Dad’s car,eating his food and caring less about the parent’s grandchild. You are either an adult or you are not. To have a daughter become ill with a punctured uterus after an abortion and all the medical expense and health risks involved would certainly make the daughter very happy that ol’ Mom and Dad are their with the health insurance and giving their consent for her hysterectomy. Certainly the school or the government would not be there for her. Children having sex is the problem, unwanted pregnancy is the result.
@sarahzthoughts -Actually, there’s a pill version of abortions that most people are able to take. So it’s not necessarily a surgery.
On the actual topic, of course they should be allowed to.
fuck yes.
Its her body!her future.and her kids life.It’s abvious that a 16 year old cant raise a child..only in really rare cases..
@AlluringAddiction - A fetus, embryo, unborn child, whatever stage of development you prefer, is an individual human being, NOT an extension of the mother’s body. This is a biological fact, proven by DNA.
If her parents are that bad where they would hurt her she should call someone about them. Until your 18 you dont have rights. Accept it theres a reason for it.
@TheBlueNinjaTiger - And I could give a shit.
This topic takes into consideration physical and emotional maturity. Many aren’t ready to make decisions at 18, many are before 18, we all know that nobody gains any special knowledge overnight at 18 that suddenly makes them an adult. US law blurs the line on adulthood for many things (driving, charging minors as adults). It also takes into consideration individual rights. Personally, I think 16 year olds possess the capabilities to make that decision. How well they research that decision is another matter. Some parents are good parents, some are not. It’s difficult for me to say in general terms, so i won’t!
Yep
@TheBlueNinjaTiger -
A fetus, embryo, unborn child, whatever stage of development you prefer, is an individual human being, NOT an extension of the mother’s body. This is a biological fact, proven by DNA.
A human corpse is an individual human being– and this is a biological fact proven by DNA. Most people, however, seems to have no problem packing it in dirt or burning it and putting its ash into an urn.
Yes.
Most definitly. I mean, if i got a girl pregnant right now i’d sure hope we can get a secret abortion. jk jk its a cruel joke. But in all seriousness, i think it’s their body and they get to choose what to do with it, not their parents
abortions are fun for some
@Celestial_Teapot - a human corpse isn’t alive. A fetus is.
@TheBlueNinjaTiger - A cancer cell is alive. So is my cheek cell.
Care to add any other qualification?
@Celestial_Teapot - but those cells are YOU. The fetus isn’t.
@TheBlueNinjaTiger - The fetus is a part of the woman. If not, why not just move the fetus out in the open and let it fend for itself?
@Celestial_Teapot - dependency does not mean the fetus is just part of the mother. Would you say the same of a new born child? A 1-year-old? A 3-year-old? None of them could survive on their own. Or do you not consider anybody below the age of 18 a person?
@TheBlueNinjaTiger - A braindead patient is dependent on life-support, yet, in many places, it’s is okay for a close relative to pull the plug.
nobody, regardless of age, should be having an abortion.
it’s murder.the end.
@Celestial_Teapot - Just because the law says it’s okay, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. Also, the fetus is not braindead. If it were, the woman probably would have a miscarriage.
@ohbigfattie - I concur.
@TheBlueNinjaTiger - What’s wrong with a wife or a father consenting to putting a braindead husband or son off life-support?
@Celestial_Teapot - I did not say that it was wrong to do that. I said that just because the law says something okay, doesn’t necessarily mean that something is right.
@TheBlueNinjaTiger - No shit; that can be said of any rule or law regardless of how right or wrong that particular law is.
Rape is illegal. But no, wait! Just because the law say something isn’t okay doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily wrong!
I think they should be able to get abortions without their parent’s consent, but I’m not sure if it should be done without their permission. My parents were horrible parents, so that definitely affects my opinion. However I wasn’t having sex until I was almost 20 anyway. But still – it should DEFINITELY not require their permission.
Depends. Are the parents still legally responsible for their child at 16 in New Zealand? Can’t have your cake & eat it, too. Either they are ready to be adults or they aren’t. If they want to make adult decisions then they need to be responsible for themselves.
@Celestial_Teapot - agreed. We do not look to the laws on the books to determine whether something is right or wrong, but rather the majority of us know what is right and wrong, and we make our laws reflect that. It’s just how our society is organized. Abortion is wrong. The law says doesn’t condone it, but it doesn’t condemn it either. You have to look at morality. People who support abortion, or at the very least do not condemn it, are saying that it is not murder. Perhaps according to our law it isn’t necessarily murder since there may not have been malice in the aforethought, but when did the killing of the innocent become okay?
@radicalramblings - Whoa! You’re still alive! Maybe I can go back to leaving disagreeable comments on your blog. =D
Yes. to become a teen mom or not to be is their decisions their responsibilities.
@beebizzle - no. My school had several pregnant teens at it (and it does now) and the nurses AND counsellors were there for them constantly; I went with a friend on a counsellor visit and he told her exactly what her options were, not at all pushing abortion on her. They aren’t pushy, except in asking the girls to tell their parents. Believe me, counsellors would rather work with parents, they just can’t be the ones to tell parents.
I can’t speak for all schools in NZ but I know this is a fair example of how counsellors/nurses do help students in their charge. The pregnancy rate among teen girls is pretty high, from what I last read, and there’s always a few of them in most schools, so it’s not as though the schools are big snobs about it. And most schools have great counsellors… I think it’s ridiculous to think they force girls into abortions because they know they don’t have to tell the parents and rather wouldn’t have the girls walking around giving the school a bad look. It’s not the case at all. NZ is great in that if there was a case of nurses and counsellors behaving that way, it would be in the news instantly. This story isn’t even news, it’s how schools are run; often counsellors play more of a role in children’s lives than parents because children don’t know how to tell parents certain things. I know I always trusted my counsellors and am still in touch with them. Give them more credit; same for the nurses. This isn’t a country where adults force children into anything, children have many more choices I imagine than they do in other so-called civilised countries.
I agree with your point about parents needing to make sure their kids can come to them with anything… but I imagine in many cases, girls would have very loving, accepting parents and would fear telling them anyway, because they don’t want to disappoint the parents.
@sarahzthoughts - FYI not all abortions are surgical
ah dur dur dur
and how many times have you met stupid people who vote/drink/drive at or above the age of 18 and older! Age means nothing.
I think that they should be able to do it. I think at least they have SOMEONE to turn to (weather it be the school or a clinic) and be able to make an informed decision.
Yes. It’s her life, not her parents. It’s none of their damn business.
Double edged sword, and I certainly don’t think it should be younger than 16 years old without parental consent…but I’m not really opposed to it. If the decision is between a bunch of 16 year olds having babies and a bunch of 16 year olds having abortions I would kind of rather they have the abortions. God knows we don’t need any more teenage mothers in this world.
Abortion is very serious and can have lifelong psychological consequences. Sex is not meant for fun. It is serious biological function made pleasurable to encourage reproduction. It should be respected and as a precious gift given to mankind. Getting pregnant is a wonderful gift and once treated with respect it ought to happen under the right circumstances and then abortion is something of the past.
primary care doctor
Why shouldn’t they be able to? It is their own body, choice, and baby. As long as they are fully informed of their choices before hand then i don’t see why not. It is up to the teen if she feels the need to confide in her parents about her decision, and i think that by creating an age limit of 18 would probibly do more damage then it would good, because the teen could (if she was afraid of confiding in her parents) take it into her own hands to terminate the pregnancy and seriously hurt herself.
I’m not saying i support abortion, but i deffinately don’t support taking away the right of abortion from a woman, no matter what age.
Everyone I knew at sixteen was still a kid in every way…myself included. Abortion isn’t like deciding to get your bellybutton pierced. It’s a huge decision, and there are so many heavy consequences. So, no, absolutely not. That’s incredibly stupid and irresponsible of all the other adults involved. At what point did everybody leave their common sense at the door, anyway? Come on…
No. Flip no.
@FallingSafely - That is such a serious twist on the 98% of people who are getting abortions. First off, most 10 year olds are incapable of getting pregnant so let’s not act like this is “normal.” In addition, I’m assuming that she gave birth vaginally? If so – how stupid on the medical staff’s part. A c-section is 100% how that should’ve been handled. And then the father or whomever the abuser was should be locked up for the rest of his life.
The OP is about the norm when it comes to abortions – teens who are having sex and whether or not the parents should have knowledge and/or need to consent to the procedure.
@MyTwoCentss - I’m aware it’s not the norm, but you think that hasn’t happened to a 16 year old? Getting pregnant to her father? And telling her parents about the abortion would be beneficial how? She should feel like she is safe from her parents to be able to talk about her pregnancy. Case by case basis. What about a 16 year old whose parents will beat her for it? Or use emotional abuse? Case by case basis.
@FallingSafely - And just how are they to take it on a case by case basis? Do they go to the house to investigate the family & lie for their reasons for the investigation? Which can throw suspicion on the abused and escalate the abuse. Do they just take the teenager’s word for it – when everyone knows that they could easily lie to get what they want? An innocent, unborn life hangs in the balance so how does one go about figuring things out on a case by case basis? And how much time will that take? Abortions are harder on the baby as well as the girl’s body the farther along in the pregnancy as well as more gruesome.
Does anyone honestly think that abortions are getting down to the root of the problems/issues & helping people? Abortions are just pretending that there aren’t true, underlying issues. It’s treating the symptom, not the actual problem.
@Ork58 - you know i was wondering why there were so many people ok with this, and then i did a double take at the ages of those answering. i’m 23, but i’m a mom and like i stated previously i would be furious if someone allowed my daughter to get an abortion without my permission at 16.
@looking_inside_me - you’re definitely not the only one. i think this is absurd and the people who are saying “her body her right” are just….i dunno. i’m shocked. it’s our job as parents to protect them…at least until they’re of age and then there’s not much we can do (but i’ll be damned if i’ll give up!).
@looking_inside_me - So you’d rather teach her that at 16 she’s old enough to raise a child when she’s a child herself?
Shame on you. You know full well that the abortion did not kill a fetus like the one you pictured. Your associating the two of them is despicable and immoral. I have lost all respect I used to have for you.
@belleorecluses - You just said it yourself, she is still a child herself. Its better for her to learn the responsibilities of her actions than to teach her to erase her actions by abortion, and yes I did help my sister raise her child, to help her become a mother. That was easier than having her deal with the emotional consequences that would have her for life.
Do you know what they need to teach boys and girls at an early age? don’t ejaculate inside the female without using a condom, or do not cum inside a girl. I was told straightforward, never to let anyone ejaculate into me unless you want a baby. I still had sex at an early age. as stupid and vulgar as that sentence sounds, I think it would be so much more helpful teaching kids in the language that they are learning it from the media.
kids are going to have sex no matter what, at least they can be educated to protect themselves.
@looking_inside_me - I totally understand where you’re coming from. I do. I just don’t want the parents to make a bad decision, either.
The parents have to at least have knowledge of this. If they are under legal age living under their parents roof, the parents deserve to know. As for stopping her, it’s her body they can’t stop her. As long as the whole process is safe I don’t see anything wrong then.
of course not.
@passionforapurpose - i totally agree with you.
So long as the bill doesnt end up in the parent’s lap. Im not pro-choice but if thats going to happen, the parents should not be held accountable for those actions
If the 16yr old is considered an adult by law then yes -and she should be billed for it.
But if not- the parents need to be told and have a say in it. If the parents are gonna be held responsible for her and her bills, then they should have the last word on it. And if the parents decide for her to carry it full term, then they need to pay for her medical care IF she has no insurance or ability to pay on her own. And at age 16 her body should be able to carry it to term. Complications of carrying a child (including risks to the child) can happen at any age and should be handled on an individual bases.
“but getting a child sucked out of you when
you’re still a child yourself is perfectly ok?” hrmm
“Its better for her to learn
the responsibilities of her actions than to teach her to erase her
actions by abortion”
right because this can be simplified into ‘erasing the action by abortion’. It’s a lot more complicated than that, I’m afraid. IMO babies should not be thought of as lesson learning devices.
“Abortion is very serious and can have
lifelong psychological consequences.”
Having children is very serious and can have lifelong psychological consequences.
From Sunrise and sunset,permanence is the river of time. Back in the million years ago, humans have learned to observe and control the time of the operation of the law. From the corona to the atomic clock, the human mastery of time and measurement methods had changed more and more science, sophisticated. watches replica watches replica real development is from the beginning of the 16th century and spread knowledge of science and technology. With the timer design, improvement, manufacture and spread, the clock have being started around our side and along with the progress of human society have being progressed. It not only improve our way of life, but aosl their own is fine art and Priceless. As watch enthusiasts should know that clock follow the time’s the tracesin in the footsteps.