[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

First off, stepfathers are not usually legal guardians unless they adopt the child, in which case they are then "adoptive father" not stepfather.
Second, my point is that 10 year olds cannot and should not make decisions about their health care.
Third, according to the article, they do not know exactly when the mother alerted authorities or how far along the girl was at the time. It is entirely possible that the mom didn't know until it was too late in the pregnancy

State Attorney General Francisco Alor Quezada said he did not know whether officials had told the girl she had the option of pursuing an abortion, and he did not know how far the girl was into her pregnancy when her mother reported the assault to authorities last month.

He said the girl is in the custody of state protective services, and officials are closely monitoring her physical and psychological care.

Fourth, Because the child is in custody of state protective services, they are currently her legal guardians. Therefore, they would make the decision.

Many of the kids I worked with in adolescent psych were sexual abuse victims. It was unbelievable how many of them had mothers who would not leave the abuser. This mom did what she should.. she reported it, the stepdad was arrested.

I get that they would make the decision, I just don't agree with it.