Quote:
Originally Posted by AOII Angel
I've gotta tell you...once an underage girl becomes pregnant, for all purposes of her medical care, she is an ADULT. It doesn't matter if she is 9 years old. I think then saying you're an adult and have to make your own medical decisions as a mother, but if you want an abortion you are now a minor and have to ask permission of your parent is stupid.
The problem with a lot of this debate is that it is not completely about abortion rights. The debate includes social and religious views about contraception, pre-marital sex, sex education and a plethora of other topics.
I think at some point we all will have to decide that to reach a goal of decreasing the number of abortions in this country, we have to accept that contraception and sex education should be readily available with NO impediment put on teenagers because of their parents personal moral or religious ideology. A recent study showed that pre-marital sex rates have not changed since the 20's. The polled people from their teens to their 80s and 95% of people reported that they engaged in pre-marital sex. This whole "abstinence" ideal is a myth. People LIE. Do we want to pretend we all were virgins until marriage and leave our children to sneak out and get pregnant because giving contraception "sends the wrong message?" Or do we accept that the VAST MAJORITY of Americans don't practice what they preach and that we'd do our children a favor by being realistic and giving them the tools to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and deadly diseases?
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I agree about the "abstinence" idea. I do think teens are more likely to lie on such polling/research than non-teens for fear of parents finding out about what they really are doing. I do think abstinence should be taught as part of sex education but then it shoudl also be said something along the lines of this.."but if you decide to have sex here is some important information you need to know and ways of protecting yourself..."
My oldest son is having sex. He didnt tell us, but I could tell. I buy him condoms. That way he doesnt have to feel weird about asking because he already has them. I cant be with him every minute of the day to stop him from having sex, but I will encourage and promote safer sex by buying him condoms and talking to him about their proper use, STD's, etc. I think he listens most of the time
As for the debate about parental notification. I understand the point about some kids being so horrified of their parents not to ask. So I have this question. Your teens goes and gets an abortion. The pregnancy is terminated and she is no longer pregnant. You know nothing about it. Later she starts having complications. You are freaking out because you have no idea what the hell is going on. Is that something you want to find out in an ER? She wont be pregnant then and will be back to being a minor that needs medical treatment. Hormonal birth control--Most ladies dont suffer side effects. Some suffer very dangerous side effects. I'll use stroke for example (and a higher risk if woman smokes). Your child gets hormonal birth control from wherever without your knowledge. Some time goes by and she has a stroke. Your freak out wondering how she had a stroke so young. later you find out it was caused from birth control that you didnt know she was taking. Is that another scenario you want to find out about after the fact? There are side effects with implants. Do you want to find out your daughter had an implant after the fact if it gets infected and needs medical treatment?
I would prefer my children to wait, preferably until marriage but definitely until college. Whiel this isnt the case for all parents I'm more than happy to help them get birth control and whatever exams they need. But I WOULD BE FURIOUS if someone did those things without my consent/knowledge with the side effects/complications that can go with those. I've seen too much as a nurse in private practice with high risk groups to budge from that opinion.
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