Abortion is not a topic that I want to cover directly. I am pro-choice and I will leave it at that. The question is, should parents of a minor be notified before she receives an abortion?
At first I thought that it sounded like a good law, but then I thought about it more. Obviously not everyone has good parents. There are many different dynamics of families, and some minors are just not in the position to communicate with their parents on that level. Lynch Stated:
"I strongly believe parents should be involved in these decisions, providing important support and guidance. Unfortunately that is not possible in every case.”
It is up to the parents to raise their children with open communication and understanding. Girls who feel that they can go to their parents will. Those who do not, will not. In some cases it may be dangerous for the minor to have her parents notified.
I do not know the exact details of the law, but I would hope that in the 44 states that have one like it, there is a clause that states that if there is reason to believe that notifying the parents would put the minor in a dangerous situation, then the law would not be enforced in that case.
Another problem with this law however, is that if a minor knows or learns of its existence, they may decide not to get help from a professional and take matters into their own hands. Jessica Coleman was 15 when she hid her pregnancy from everyone except her boyfriend. She stabbed her baby with scissors after she gave birth to him over a toilet. She obviously felt that she couldn't turn to her mother or an organization such as Planned Parenthood. Now she is in a maximum security prison. This is an extreme case, but having “safe haven” laws and NOT having laws such as the one being discussed here, can prevent anything like it from happening again.
This law had good intentions but I agree that it is unconstitutional. It could potentially do more harm than good.
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