I never cease to be amazed at how absolute the abortion right has become. Women not only have a right to abortion, through the ninth month in many cases, but so do children–and they can obtain an abortion in some states without their parents even knowing they underwent a serious surgical procedure.
Children can't take an aspirin without parental consent. They can't legally enter into contracts. They can't get their ears pierced without a parental signature. They can't get tattoos. They can't get a driver's license or join the military. But Seattle school officials conspired to obtain a 15 year old's abortion behind her parents' backs–during school hours!–and it is all legal. From the story:
The mother of a Ballard High School student is fuming after the health center on campus helped facilitate her daughter's abortion during school hours. The mother, whom KOMO News has chosen to identify only as "Jill," says the clinic kept the information "confidential." When she signed a consent form, Jill figured it meant her 15 year old could go to the Ballard Teen Health Center located inside the high school for an earache, a sports physical, even birth control, but not for help terminating a pregnancy. "She took a pregnancy test at school at the teen health center," she said. "Nowhere in this paperwork does it mention abortion or facilitating abortion."
Jill says her daughter, a pro-life advocate, was given a pass, put in a taxi and sent off to have an abortion during school hours all without her family knowing. "We had no idea this was being facilitated on campus," said Jill. "They just told her that if she concealed it from her family, that it would be free of charge and no financial responsibility."…
T.J. Cosgrove of the King County Health Department, which administers the school-based programs for the health department, says it's always best if parents are involved in their children's health care, but don't always have a say. "At any age in the state of Washington, an individual can consent to a termination of pregnancy," he said. But Jill says she not only didn't have a say in her daughter's abortion, but also didn't know about it. "Makes me feel like my rights were completely stripped away."
That's because parents don't matter. Abortion matters, and for some reason, seems to matter more than anything else.
And here's an irony: If the girl had a complication and her parents took her to the hospital, they would have to sign a consent form before doctors could treat her or even, save her life. I don't care if one is pro life or pro choice, such blatant usurpation of parental responsibilities is just plain wrong.
Contact: Wesley J. Smith
Source: Secondhand Smoke
Publish Date: March 24, 2010
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