10-year-old's pregnancy fuels Mexican abortion debate

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

The girl doesn't know that. Adults can't predict their mental and emotional well-being so a 10 year old darn sure can't.

.

That's kind of out there. It should be her decision alone, in my view, because it is her.

The 10 year old in question will make a better decision than any adult who it isn't happening ever could.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

It should be her decision alone, in my view, because it is her.

The 10 year old in question will make a better decision than any adult who it isn't happening ever could.

I look forward to the day the laws catch up with that ridiculous line of thinking.

Parents would love for their children to be able to to help pay the household bills, drive themselves everywhere, and take control of their own schooling and futures. And while they're at it, if they want to smoke, drink, and fuck--why not? They are fully aware of themselves and fully capable of making such decisions. Children are just shortass adults. Child labor laws and statutory laws are complete bullshit.

Scoff.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

You can't tell children that they are children and then give them life altering decisions to make where their choices will be the end-all that can't be overridden by the adult decision makers.

Angel's Advocate: If you've just admitted that adults couldn't predit their own emotional and mental well-being, they why should they get to override the girl's decision regarding hers? Would your feelings on that change depending on what she chose?

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Angel's Advocate: If you've just admitted that adults couldn't predit their own emotional and mental well-being, they why should they get to override the girl's decision regarding hers? Would your feelings on that change depending on what she chose?

Because a 10 year old doesn't even have the capability of understanding the full consequences of either action. A 10 year old doesn't have the right to make medical decisions for themselves. They don't get to choose whether they get a flu shot. They don't get to choose whether they get a blood test. Their parents are their legal guardians and as such, get to decide everything about their lives, within the law.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Because a 10 year old doesn't even have the capability of understanding the full consequences of either action. A 10 year old doesn't have the right to make medical decisions for themselves. They don't get to choose whether they get a flu shot. They don't get to choose whether they get a blood test. Their parents are their legal guardians and as such, get to decide everything about their lives, within the law.

Yeah but her one legal guardian raped her and got her pregnant, and the other one took forever to tell anyone about it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Angel's Advocate: If you've just admitted that adults couldn't predit their own emotional and mental well-being, they why should they get to override the girl's decision regarding hers?

You know the answer to that question. If you don't, think of your interactions with children and the stupid things that they generally think are soooooo important.

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Would your feelings on that change depending on what she chose?

No.

If that family decides she should have the child (and the state doesn't intervene) then that means the family will HOPEFULLY assist with prenatal care, raising the child, and the necessary counseling. I think that would be a dumb decision but it would hopefully be an adult-made decision.

[ASUADPi]

This whole situation is just sad as sad can be. This poor 10 year old shouldn't be having to go through what she is in fact going through. My heart goes out to her.

[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.

[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.

[christiangirl]

By definition, this case doesn't seem to fit the bill for "incest." If Disgusto wasn't married to the girl's mother, they wouldn't be closely related enough to prohibit their marriage. I'm not defending him, but this whole thing is nauseating enough without adding more stigma than what the poor girl is already dealing with.

[AGDee]

I'll be totally honest here. If my 10 year old was raped and became pregnant, I wouldn't even TELL her that she was pregnant. I'd tell her that the attacker did damage that required surgery, which isn't really a lie. Just as parents don't always tell kids that they are being tested for things like leukemia until they know results.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I'll be totally honest here. If my 10 year old was raped and became pregnant, I wouldn't even TELL her that she was pregnant. I'd tell her that the attacker did damage that required surgery, which isn't really a lie. Just as parents don't always tell kids that they are being tested for things like leukemia until they know results.

You know what? I, personally, don't think I would handle it that way (because no one really knows what they'd do if they were faced with this) but I totally see why you would. I hadn't even thought of that through the course of this thread and I'm not sure if a surgeon would even do it, but that seems like a pretty darn good idea. There are some downsides to that, but there are so many upsides that I know I'd consider it pretty hard.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I'll be totally honest here. If my 10 year old was raped and became pregnant, I wouldn't even TELL her that she was pregnant. I'd tell her that the attacker did damage that required surgery, which isn't really a lie. Just as parents don't always tell kids that they are being tested for things like leukemia until they know results.

Same here.

And I don't care whether or not it's a lie. Parents/adults lie to children for less important things.

[DrPhil]

They were dumb for letting her know she's pregnant.

[jdrama]

^^True. I'm pro-life but in this case, I'm wondering why she's still pregnant.