http://www.click2houston.com/news/Pregnant-teen-sues-parents-over-abortion/-/1735978/18522552/-/qj0xoyz/-/index.html

I am torn on this one. Does a 16 year old have the right to make her own choices?

I appreciate your position, frankly I can't see how anyone could be solidly behind either party in this situation!
It reminds me of the New York State "State of the State" speech given a couple weeks ago. Our governor was ranting on and on, grandstanding on this and that when he came to a point where he was practically screaming something about a woman's RIGHT to an abortion, over and over he yells it's her body, it's her RIGHT!

I can understand that position, but to scream and carry on like it was a non-issue to kill an unborn fetus, screaming like a madman (to cheers and applause mind you) was waaaaaaay overboard on what "should be" a sensitive subject!

bbauska wrote:http://www.click2houston.com/news/Pregnant-teen-sues-parents-over-abortion/-/1735978/18522552/-/qj0xoyz/-/index.html

I am torn on this one. Does a 16 year old have the right to make her own choices?

The girl certainly has the right to keep her baby or fetus since there's no evidence that her life is in danger. That just seems so basic to me, and I tend to be a bit wishy washy on many things.

It's her body; It's her right. I would never do that to my child. .

Well yes, clearly a 16 year old girl has the right (or should have the right) to carry her baby to term if she wants to. I don't think you'll get any disagreement from anybody here. As a discussion point this is going to fall flat I suspect.

I would hope that it would not be an issue for anyone.

My question is more rhetorical, as a parent what would you think if a child of your has an abortion if you are staunchly pro-life?

bbauska wrote:I would hope that it would not be an issue for anyone.

If she wants to have the baby, that is her decision. Of course, as much as she may be being coerced by her parents, she may also be being coerced by others. I hope she (and the baby) are not just made into political footballs for a polarised debate.

My question is more rhetorical, as a parent what would you think if a child of your has an abortion if you are staunchly pro-life?

Well, how many people do you think that applies to, and do you even care what those of us who are not parents and who are not staunchly pro-life think?

Because my view would be that I would back my daughter's decision, whatever it is.

Of course, you did say in your opening post that you were torn. Was that rhetorical too, or were you just telling us a porkie

"Porkie"?? I do not recognize that term.

Torn? Yes, I would be torn between desire to protect the baby in her womb, and the angst that I had raised my daughter to have to make a decision of that magnitude.

I just checked with my British friends. I was right. It does mean a lie.

Actually, this situation is uncomfortable for the pro-life crowd. Here, everyone seems to be saying that even if she is only 16 she has a right to make decisions regarding her own body, including the right to have a baby against her parent's wishes. Well, that is the pro-choice position! Moreover the pro-life movement has attempted in various ways to coerce women to not have an abortion. Here, coercion is going the other direction. Yeah, I expect this case would make someone who is pro-life a little uncomfortable...

Does that cut both ways?

I don't think it really hurts the pro-life side at all, they simply do not use the "it's my body, it's my choice" option, a pro lifer would simply accept her for making the right decision while condemning the parents wrong choice to demand an abortion. I think it's certainly sensitive whatever you think and as I said, even as a general policy to allow or disallow abortion, it's sensitive no matter where you sit on the issue ...or at least should be, unlike Governor Cuomo that is!

bbauska wrote:I just checked with my British friends. I was right. It does mean a lie.

Yes, but that includes little white lies, and it's usually used in a mild, jokey context rather than as a serious and damning accusation.

I have seen documented examples of 'pro life' people who do get or condone abortions in their own circumstances. Including some who picket a clinic that they themselves use, or while in a clinic castigate other people in there while maintaining that their situation is 'different'. Some I'm sure change their mind , but apparently quite a few carry on and continue to fight against the choice they themselves made.

But this case looks quite different. Of course, we may not be getting the full picture, and there may be more going on than is being outlined (indeed there may be less as well), but as someone who supports choice, and who doesn't really like abortion but feels it should still be a safe and legal option, I don't agree with coercion on someone to have a termination, in the same way I oppose coercion to not have one.

I don't think it cuts both ways because this isn't China and we're not trying to force women to have abortions. If a woman has no inherent right to control her pregnancy (the pro-life position) then why shouldn't the parents have the right to make the decision for her because she is a minor? Clearly, if it is wrong to interfere in a minor's control of her own pregnancy, then interfering with any woman's decision regarding her pregnan(including whether to have an abortion) is wrong as well.

Clearly, if it is wrong to interfere in a minor's control of her own pregnancy, then interfering with any woman's decision regarding her pregnan(including whether to have an abortion) is wrong as well.

What if the girl was 13 instead of 16?

The abortion debate is about the rights of the mom vs. the rights of the child or fetus. This adds the question of the rights of the parent vs the rights of a minor. A parent is charged with taking care of their offspring's care. In this case, presumably that's the parent's legal position, but I agree with you that forcing an abortion is wrong.

Partially that is based on the reality that some 16 year olds can take care of a baby and are old enough to make that choice.

However, can a 13 year old make that choice, and can a 13 year old handle the responsibility of raising a child? Who would be responsible for this child when it is born?

I'm just asking and have no idea.

Personally, I don't think a 16 year old is a minor in this regard. In UK law a 16 yr old can have sex, cam marry, and so can obviously make decisions about their reproductive rights.

A 13 year old is a minor, and so while their interests should be paramount, they don't necessarily get to decide. Of course the question then is who does (parents, courts?) and what a 'default' position should be.

Of course, there will always be complicating factors in individual cases, which is why I would feel uncomfortable with a one-size-fits-all approach. Because not all parents are good parents, not all kids are unable to make a major decision, not all jurisdictions are good at making fair judgements