Mature Enough? At Age 13?????
ACLU appeals state decision barring abortion for 13-year-old
By JILL BARTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The state's social services agency went to court to block a 13-year-old girl who is pregnant and living in a state shelter from having an abortion, and the girl wants to challenge the judge's decision.
The ACLU filed an emergency appeal on Wednesday asking a judge to overturn the ruling that would essentially force the girl to become a mother, said Howard Simon, the organization's executive director for Florida.
The girl, named L.G. in court documents and described as a longtime ward of the state, learned she was pregnant two weeks ago and had planned to have an abortion Tuesday. Her caseworker arranged for transportation and help for the girl.
But the state Department of Children & Families asked a Palm Beach County juvenile judge Tuesday morning to block the abortion. The agency argued that L.G., who is 13 1/2 weeks pregnant, was too young and immature to make an informed medical decision, according to the appeal filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
A judge granted a temporary injunction to block the abortion and ordered a psychological evaluation of L.G.
L.G.'s appeal cites Florida law that protects a minor's decision to decide on an abortion.
In 2003, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a 1999 law requiring parents to be notified if their minor daughters seek an abortion.
Florida's high court also cited state privacy rights in 1989 when it tossed out a law that would have required parental consent for a minor's abortion.
"DCF and the circuit court have instituted a process whereby the state will make a decision for L.G. based upon its own evaluation of her best interest. This it cannot do," the appeal said.
DCF spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz said state law prohibits the department from consenting to an abortion for a minor in any instance.
"If a child in our care requests to have any procedure prohibited under Florida statute, we cannot give consent," Munoz said. "It's not our decision. "We stand in different shoes. We're held to a higher accountability."
{snip}
"If she's not old enough yet to decide if she should have a tattoo, or drive, or vote, how in the world is she old enough to make such an important decision on her own?" Kottkamp said.
But Rep. Anne Gannon, D-Delray Beach, said she doesn't think DCF should be making such a decision.
"I think this is merely the governor playing politics once again," she said.
"I think that a 13-year-old who is mature enough to make the decision to have sex is mature enough to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy," she added. "The reality is, I don't want 13-year-olds having sex. But I want them to have access to accurate information and education."
Mature enough to make the decision to have sex? HELLO!? Obviously she is NOT mature enough to make that decision, is she? IT WAS A BAD DECISION! DUH! That kinda explains your not wanting 13 year olds having sex, doesn't it? If they mare mature enough to make the decision to carry a gun to school then are they mature enough to decide weather or not to use it? Give me a BREAK!
By JILL BARTON
Associated Press Writer
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The state's social services agency went to court to block a 13-year-old girl who is pregnant and living in a state shelter from having an abortion, and the girl wants to challenge the judge's decision.
The ACLU filed an emergency appeal on Wednesday asking a judge to overturn the ruling that would essentially force the girl to become a mother, said Howard Simon, the organization's executive director for Florida.
The girl, named L.G. in court documents and described as a longtime ward of the state, learned she was pregnant two weeks ago and had planned to have an abortion Tuesday. Her caseworker arranged for transportation and help for the girl.
But the state Department of Children & Families asked a Palm Beach County juvenile judge Tuesday morning to block the abortion. The agency argued that L.G., who is 13 1/2 weeks pregnant, was too young and immature to make an informed medical decision, according to the appeal filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
A judge granted a temporary injunction to block the abortion and ordered a psychological evaluation of L.G.
L.G.'s appeal cites Florida law that protects a minor's decision to decide on an abortion.
In 2003, the Florida Supreme Court struck down a 1999 law requiring parents to be notified if their minor daughters seek an abortion.
Florida's high court also cited state privacy rights in 1989 when it tossed out a law that would have required parental consent for a minor's abortion.
"DCF and the circuit court have instituted a process whereby the state will make a decision for L.G. based upon its own evaluation of her best interest. This it cannot do," the appeal said.
DCF spokeswoman Marilyn Munoz said state law prohibits the department from consenting to an abortion for a minor in any instance.
"If a child in our care requests to have any procedure prohibited under Florida statute, we cannot give consent," Munoz said. "It's not our decision. "We stand in different shoes. We're held to a higher accountability."
{snip}
"If she's not old enough yet to decide if she should have a tattoo, or drive, or vote, how in the world is she old enough to make such an important decision on her own?" Kottkamp said.
But Rep. Anne Gannon, D-Delray Beach, said she doesn't think DCF should be making such a decision.
"I think this is merely the governor playing politics once again," she said.
"I think that a 13-year-old who is mature enough to make the decision to have sex is mature enough to decide whether to terminate a pregnancy," she added. "The reality is, I don't want 13-year-olds having sex. But I want them to have access to accurate information and education."
Mature enough to make the decision to have sex? HELLO!? Obviously she is NOT mature enough to make that decision, is she? IT WAS A BAD DECISION! DUH! That kinda explains your not wanting 13 year olds having sex, doesn't it? If they mare mature enough to make the decision to carry a gun to school then are they mature enough to decide weather or not to use it? Give me a BREAK!
posted by Straight Up with Sherri at
12:30 PM
7 Comments:
I think that the fact that an underage girl is pregnant in the first place is, unless she was raped, proof that she's immature, or she'd not have chosen to have sex to begin with.
By
Christina Dunigan, at 8:49 PM
Also she needs to be informed of the astronomical rates of breast cancer suffered by women who have abortions as teens. Then maybe she can avoid the rush to kill the child conceived and herself. Question one after that is who molested her?
By
Alnot, at 8:15 AM
I am not in any position to say whether or not any 13 year girl is mature enough to make such a decision that will impact the rest of her life. THis reason is only because many children reach his or her maturity level at different ages in their lives. However, despite what the young child is facing, once again the government has already determined that they have the ultimate right to determine what takes place. I am very upset to see this young child in this situation, and the question that I ask is where was the supervision? What makes our government determine if any young child is fit to carry a child full-term, and give birth, nonetheless?
I have always been a person who believed in both sides of the issue. I am against abortion, but I am also pro-choice. My position is determine based upon the severity of the situation and or person. In this particular case regarding this child, she should not be having this child. To me it is not a question of maturiy. It is a question of what effect this will have on this young girl.
By
Anonymous, at 12:42 PM
My comment was posted regarding this young girl, and I must add that it is important that we protect these young children, and not allow them to be forced to make decisions that will impact the rest of their lives. We as parents should always have the right to determine what is best for our children, without the government constantly interfering in our decision process. If we as parents are held accountable for what our children do wrong, then our government should also hold the same accountability.
By
Anonymous, at 12:47 PM
This is such a sad case. Somehow, the system has failed this child. Already in the system herself, how in the world could she care for a child? Where was the supervision? This is a reality check for all parents. It's time to start talking to our children about sex. I don't believe that she was mature enough to be having sex in the first place, much less deciding on an abortion. And more importantly, WHO IS THE FATHER?
By
Anonymous, at 10:44 AM
What an unfortunate situation! How does a thirteen year old girl in state custody get pregnant? Where was the supervision? I don't think she's mature enough to make the abortion decision all by herself, but I don't think a child should be born into such a situation.
tj1625
By
Anonymous, at 6:09 PM
This is a sad situation. Obviously the girl has gotten into a something that she probably never thought would happen. She is immature but she may have been having sex not for the pleasure of it but because she was looking for someone to care. It is easy to look at the situation from the outside and say what we would do, but reality is until you are in the situation you can never be so sure as to how you want it to play out. I have been in that situation, although not at such a young age and you would never know it meeting me. I am a successful professional mother and wife who has always been strong and self sufficient. I ended up pregnant due to failure of man's means of contraception and at the time I know I made the right choice. Would I do it today, no. But I am at a different place in my life today. So don't be so quick to judge. I don't think it is our right to do so, only God's.
MH7086
By
Anonymous, at 5:06 PM
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