Did you read this? FL court blocks teen's abortion?

[Bunny]

Sorry if this has already been posted.

SNIP
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The state's social services agency was granted a court order to block an abortion for a pregnant 13-year-old girl living in a state shelter, prompting an emergency appeal Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union.

No (Department of Children & Families) regulation or state law can override a constitutional right as recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court," said Howard Simon, the organization's executive director for Florida.

But putting aside the legalisms, forcing a 13-year-old to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term against her wishes not only is illegal and unconstitutional, it's cruel."

The state agency argued the 13 1/2-week pregnant girl — described as L.G. in court documents — is too young and immature to make an informed medical decision, according to the ACLU appeal.
SNIP

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=28&u=/ap/20050428/ap_on_re_us/abortion_dispute

This certainly raises an interesting question. Can a child who is a ward of the state be denied access to abortion? Can the state require a minor, who is their ward, to carry a fetus to term? If this was a 13 year old girl from an intact family living in a private home, would the state have tried to intervene?

[SCDem]

1. Handmaidens Tale

Margaret Atwood had it down right. Now are shelters become breeding grounds for infertile couples.

Oh yeah we are a democratic nation right :shrug:

[rodeodance]

2. seens ti ne that her 'legal guadians" will make the decison (the state)

Pre-Bush (jeb and jr)--it might have been allowed. That era is gone.



....This certainly raises an interesting question. Can a child who is a ward of the state be denied access to abortion? Can the state require a minor, who is their ward, to carry a fetus to term? If this was a 13 year old girl from an intact family living in a private home, would the state have tried to intervene?

[Warpy]

3. Too young to make an informed medical decision, but old enough

to be a MOTHER? Just what lousy fucking drug are these people on?

Prolife my flabby pasty ass!

[yo-yo-ma]

4. and this will traumatize her so much more

in my experience almost all pregnant 13 year olds were victims of abuse.

they certainly were too young to really understand what was happening to their bodies especially during labor and delivery

a decision to have an abortion is always a difficult one

to have it then broadcast through the media will all of the righteous dimwits weighing in - that must be awful for her and those close to her

[rfkrfk]

5. the girl, is being held against her will, or not? n/t

[Bunny]

6. Well, I'm thinking yeah.

She's a ward of the state, FL is her legal guardian. She's living in a state run home. So yeah, I'd say she won't be allowed to leave to get the abortion.